Clear the confusion, gov't told
K PragalathPublished: Sep 8, 2009 7:11 AM | Updated: Sep 8, 2009 7:15 AM
Human Rights Party pro-tem secretary P Uthayakumar wants an assurance from the government that the Indian Studies Department (ISD) of Universiti Malaya will not be renamed.
Human Rights Party pro-tem secretary P Uthayakumar wants an assurance from the government that the Indian Studies Department (ISD) of Universiti Malaya will not be renamed.
“There have been contradictory statements in the media - the Human Resources Ministry said that the department’s name will be retained, but UM vice-chancellor (Ghauth Jasmon) announced that it will be renamed the Indian and South Asian Studies Department.”
MIC president S Samy Vellu had earlier said the cabinet has agreed to retaining the ISD.
However, Uthayakumar said he wants the Higher Education Ministry to issue a circular on the decision to the UM vice-chancellor.
At a press conference today, he also said the department should be given a grant of RM52 million per annum for expansion and development, saying the quantum “signifies the number of years that the department has been neglected”.
In this regard, he has written to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin, attaching a memorandum on the history of the department and its precursor.
The document had been compiled by the Malayan-born Indian Association for the Reid Commission, so that its recommendations could be incorporated in the drafting of the federal constitution. Copies of the letter and memorandum were made available to reporters.
Uthayakumar then took a swipe at Human Resource Minister S Subramaniam for having explained the ISD controversy, when this should have been Khaled’s duty.
“Why is it that, when it comes to Indian issues, Umno uses its Indian mandors? No other country has its human resource minister speaking on higher education issues. Why doesn’t the higher education minister speak up?”
‘Indians are brilliant’
Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson M Manoharan, who was present, added his comments on the issue.
“The Indians are a brilliant lot. They (Umno) just can’t accept it.” he said, pointing out that the ISD has produced the current top Indian Malaysian police officer, SAC A Thaiveegan.
Contention arose over the department’s status, following a decision to appoint a non-Indian to head the ISD.
Plans were then made to amalgamate the South Asian Studies unit with the department, which was met by much opposition from Indian NGOs.
“There have been contradictory statements in the media - the Human Resources Ministry said that the department’s name will be retained, but UM vice-chancellor (Ghauth Jasmon) announced that it will be renamed the Indian and South Asian Studies Department.”
MIC president S Samy Vellu had earlier said the cabinet has agreed to retaining the ISD.
However, Uthayakumar said he wants the Higher Education Ministry to issue a circular on the decision to the UM vice-chancellor.
At a press conference today, he also said the department should be given a grant of RM52 million per annum for expansion and development, saying the quantum “signifies the number of years that the department has been neglected”.In this regard, he has written to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Higher Education Minister Khaled Nordin, attaching a memorandum on the history of the department and its precursor.
The document had been compiled by the Malayan-born Indian Association for the Reid Commission, so that its recommendations could be incorporated in the drafting of the federal constitution. Copies of the letter and memorandum were made available to reporters.
Uthayakumar then took a swipe at Human Resource Minister S Subramaniam for having explained the ISD controversy, when this should have been Khaled’s duty.“Why is it that, when it comes to Indian issues, Umno uses its Indian mandors? No other country has its human resource minister speaking on higher education issues. Why doesn’t the higher education minister speak up?”
‘Indians are brilliant’
Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson M Manoharan, who was present, added his comments on the issue.
“The Indians are a brilliant lot. They (Umno) just can’t accept it.” he said, pointing out that the ISD has produced the current top Indian Malaysian police officer, SAC A Thaiveegan.
Contention arose over the department’s status, following a decision to appoint a non-Indian to head the ISD.
Plans were then made to amalgamate the South Asian Studies unit with the department, which was met by much opposition from Indian NGOs.
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