Penang Indians told to shake off ethnic mindset
Athi VeerangganPublished: Jun 23, 2008 3:49 AM | Updated: Jun 23, 2008 3:56 AM
The Indian Malaysian community should rid itself of an ethnic-based mindset and adopt a multi-racial stance when seeking assistance from the Penang government.
The Indian Malaysian community should rid itself of an ethnic-based mindset and adopt a multi-racial stance when seeking assistance from the Penang government.
Only then can its issues be resolved effectively and decisively, said Penang second deputy chief minister P Ramasamy..
“It need not be only Ramu to solve Muthu’s problem … It can be Ali or Ah Chong to solve Muthu’s problem,” he explained.
“Indians cannot afford to stick to conservative mindset and should move forward with the fast developing multi-racial political governance emerging in this country.”
Ramasamy, an academician-turned-politician, was referring to the Pakatan Rakyat state government’s multi-racial agenda.
Since taking office as the country’s first deputy chief minister of Indian origin 100 days ago, he has noticed that Penang Indians prefer to meet him to resolve their problems, rather than engage the relevant executive councillor.
“The community should bring up local government problems with the appropriate executive councillor handling the portfolio, and similarly on tourism, health, welfare and so on,” he said.
“This will create broader representation and knock out racial stereotype barrier in seeking government assistance.”
Ramasamy himself handles the economic planning, education, human resources, science and technology, and innovation portfolios.
Nevertheless, he is still prepared to help out with the Indian community’s issues so long as this does not compromise the Penang government’s principles of competency, accountability and transparency.
He acknowledged that Penang Indians are lagging far behind others in education, businesses and highly-paid jobs in both the public and private sector.
Ramasamy said it will require diligence, sacrifices and self-reflection for them to overcome the problems.
‘Long way to go’
He also said he was stunned to have come across many illiterate and semi-illiterate youths in his Batu Kawan parliamentary constituency, which encompasses the Prai, Bukit Tambun and Bukit Tengah state seats.
Indians make up about 30 percent of the people in Batu Kawan and 11 per cent of Penang’s 1.7 million people, and are low-income earners and low achievers in education.
“The Indian community has a long way to go before it can become vibrant, dynamic and progressive in all fields,” said Ramasamy, who has formed an ad-hoc committee to look into the financial constraints, problems and difficulties faced by the state’s 28 Tamil primary schools.
Although his efforts to date have been thwarted by the education ministry - which has allegedly barred his interaction with the schools - his team has explored other ways and means to get first-hand information on the schools.
“A comprehensive report should be ready in another two months for the state government to work out good measures for the schools,” he said.
He was unperturbed by criticism that he is not doing enough for the community, suggesting that “the long-suffering Penang Indians could be expecting too much within a short period from the DAP-led state government”.
“I will do my best within my limits to uplift the Indians,” he said.
Only then can its issues be resolved effectively and decisively, said Penang second deputy chief minister P Ramasamy..
“It need not be only Ramu to solve Muthu’s problem … It can be Ali or Ah Chong to solve Muthu’s problem,” he explained.“Indians cannot afford to stick to conservative mindset and should move forward with the fast developing multi-racial political governance emerging in this country.”
Ramasamy, an academician-turned-politician, was referring to the Pakatan Rakyat state government’s multi-racial agenda.
Since taking office as the country’s first deputy chief minister of Indian origin 100 days ago, he has noticed that Penang Indians prefer to meet him to resolve their problems, rather than engage the relevant executive councillor.
“The community should bring up local government problems with the appropriate executive councillor handling the portfolio, and similarly on tourism, health, welfare and so on,” he said.
“This will create broader representation and knock out racial stereotype barrier in seeking government assistance.”
Ramasamy himself handles the economic planning, education, human resources, science and technology, and innovation portfolios.
Nevertheless, he is still prepared to help out with the Indian community’s issues so long as this does not compromise the Penang government’s principles of competency, accountability and transparency.He acknowledged that Penang Indians are lagging far behind others in education, businesses and highly-paid jobs in both the public and private sector.
Ramasamy said it will require diligence, sacrifices and self-reflection for them to overcome the problems.
‘Long way to go’
He also said he was stunned to have come across many illiterate and semi-illiterate youths in his Batu Kawan parliamentary constituency, which encompasses the Prai, Bukit Tambun and Bukit Tengah state seats.
Indians make up about 30 percent of the people in Batu Kawan and 11 per cent of Penang’s 1.7 million people, and are low-income earners and low achievers in education.
“The Indian community has a long way to go before it can become vibrant, dynamic and progressive in all fields,” said Ramasamy, who has formed an ad-hoc committee to look into the financial constraints, problems and difficulties faced by the state’s 28 Tamil primary schools.
Although his efforts to date have been thwarted by the education ministry - which has allegedly barred his interaction with the schools - his team has explored other ways and means to get first-hand information on the schools.“A comprehensive report should be ready in another two months for the state government to work out good measures for the schools,” he said.
He was unperturbed by criticism that he is not doing enough for the community, suggesting that “the long-suffering Penang Indians could be expecting too much within a short period from the DAP-led state government”.
“I will do my best within my limits to uplift the Indians,” he said.
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