QUIT! NGOs tell MIC, MCA, Gerakan ministers
K PragalathPublished: Dec 8, 2009 9:24 AM | Updated: Dec 8, 2009 9:34 AM
A group of Indian-based NGOs today called for the resignations of several ministers from MIC, MCA and Gerakan over their alleged failure to protect the interest of the Chinese and Indian communities.
A group of Indian-based NGOs today called for the resignations of several ministers from MIC, MCA and Gerakan over their alleged failure to protect the interest of the Chinese and Indian communities.
The NGOs, calling themselves Movement for Sustaining SPM 12 Subjects, said the ministers failed to object the government's decision to ignore vernacular languages and literary studies at the SPM level.
In the group's radar are Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam who is MIC vice-president, Deputy Education Minister and MCA Youth leader Wee Ka Siong and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon.
"We want Subramaniam to resign immediately if he cannot represent the Indian community's interest," said A Thiruvenggadam, spokesperson of the group at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur attended by other NGO representatives who make up the movement.
The Movement for Sustaining SPM 12 subjects is made up of over 200 Indian-based NGOs united in their stand to oppose the capping of SPM subjects at 10.
"Resign en bloc if you can't defend the 12 subjects," added Thiruvenggadam.
The group's spokesperson said that they had met Subramaniam on Nov 30 and he had concurred with the group's view.
Instead of capping the subjects at 10, the group suggested that subjects be capped at 12 and the best 10 taken into consideration for scholarship purposes.
A mockery of 1Malaysia
Meanwhile, Thiruvenggadam wants Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to intervene and resolve the issue because 'the decision is making a mockery of his 1Malaysia concept'.
A Rajaretinam, president of Federation of Malaysian Indian NGOs also criticised the cabinet decision.
"Mother tongue education is a constitutional right and guaranteed in the Razak Report. Don't play with fire," he said.
The NGOs will hold a mass gathering on Dec 12 at Wisma Peladang in Petaling Jaya to protest against the decision by the government.
Thiruvenggadam said they have applied for a permit to hold the gathering from Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar.
The plan to cap SPM subjects at 10 was mooted by Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in June this year.
Since then, Tamil and Chinese educationist groups have urged the government to revise its decision and allow students to take 12 subjects.
The cabinet recently said that while students will now be allowed to take 12 subjects, only 10 will be recognised, which did not go down well with these groups and NGOs.
The NGOs, calling themselves Movement for Sustaining SPM 12 Subjects, said the ministers failed to object the government's decision to ignore vernacular languages and literary studies at the SPM level.In the group's radar are Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam who is MIC vice-president, Deputy Education Minister and MCA Youth leader Wee Ka Siong and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon.
"We want Subramaniam to resign immediately if he cannot represent the Indian community's interest," said A Thiruvenggadam, spokesperson of the group at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur attended by other NGO representatives who make up the movement.The Movement for Sustaining SPM 12 subjects is made up of over 200 Indian-based NGOs united in their stand to oppose the capping of SPM subjects at 10.
"Resign en bloc if you can't defend the 12 subjects," added Thiruvenggadam.
The group's spokesperson said that they had met Subramaniam on Nov 30 and he had concurred with the group's view.
Instead of capping the subjects at 10, the group suggested that subjects be capped at 12 and the best 10 taken into consideration for scholarship purposes.
A mockery of 1Malaysia
Meanwhile, Thiruvenggadam wants Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to intervene and resolve the issue because 'the decision is making a mockery of his 1Malaysia concept'.
A Rajaretinam, president of Federation of Malaysian Indian NGOs also criticised the cabinet decision.
"Mother tongue education is a constitutional right and guaranteed in the Razak Report. Don't play with fire," he said.
The NGOs will hold a mass gathering on Dec 12 at Wisma Peladang in Petaling Jaya to protest against the decision by the government.
Thiruvenggadam said they have applied for a permit to hold the gathering from Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar.The plan to cap SPM subjects at 10 was mooted by Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in June this year.
Since then, Tamil and Chinese educationist groups have urged the government to revise its decision and allow students to take 12 subjects.
The cabinet recently said that while students will now be allowed to take 12 subjects, only 10 will be recognised, which did not go down well with these groups and NGOs.
View Comments0