Sami Vellu’s Ponggal Message

This is Samy Vellu with his Ponggal Message from -Bernama. It reads:

“PUTRAJAYA, Jan 14 (Bernama) — Harvest a good future through unity.

That, in essence, is Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu’s Ponggal message to Malaysians, especially those of Indian origin.

As unity is the key to a good future, the MIC president urged them to be united and strengthen their ties to work as a team, and with one voice.

“We must not allow ourselves to become tools of those who wish to split the community for their own agenda,” Samy Vellu who is also Works Minister, said Monday.

Ponggal (Harvest Festival), which will be observed by Malaysian Hindus tomorrow, is a celebration to thank God for a good harvest and offer gratitude to nature.

“There are many more things to be done, many more challenges to overcome. So, let us unite for the good of everyone. Unity is our strength.

“When we speak with one voice, we will achieve our goals. When we act with one determination, nothing can stop us from fulfilling our dreams,” Samy Vellu said in a statement.

In this context, he added, the MIC would continue to safeguard the rights and interests of all Indians in the country, and “we will never fall because we know the people are behind us.”

He said the largest Indian-based political party in the country would not bow to any pressure from any quarters because it believed that its sole existence is for the well-being of Malaysians of Indian origin.

“We will continue to fight for the betterment of our community and nation. This is our pledge, this is our mission and this is our destiny,” added Samy Vellu.

Meanwhile, MIC deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel in his Ponggal message urged Malaysians of Indian origin to work hard and strive for a better future, not just for themselves but also for the future generation.

“You can only reap what you sow…if we work hard now, then this hard work will be translated to greater benefits and these benefits are not only for us, but the future generation, as well,” he said.

Palanivel said Indians came to this blessed country, not hoping that someone would give them “free money”, but to work hard and create a better future for themselves and future generations.

“They believed in this principle. They did well and we are now enjoying a good life, but we must strive harder to create a better future for our children.

“Apart from this, they also transplanted the Indian culture and traditions to this soil.

“Ponggal is such a festival brought about by our forefathers to this land. All our festivals have taken deep root in this country, and let us continue celebrating these festivals as our forefathers did,” said Palanivel, who is also women, family and community development deputy minister.”

Let me wish them a happy Ponggal. May this harvest festival may bring all prosperity and happiness.

(1) Harvest a good future through unity.

This oft repeated unity is tedious and boring. As a Ponggal message to the Indians it is like telling young children “be good” insisting the children are always bad. Similarly the unity of the Indians has never been better and talking about it is frivolous On the eve of Ponngal, I can assure the Minister, unity is already there. To be honest, the Indians are more united than they were during the last 50 years. Our Prime Minister Badawi, I read, in Jeff Ooi’s blog plummeted to 61% from an earlier mid 70’s in his approval rating. It is not necessary to have a Merdeka Centre poll survey to gauge the rating of MIC and the President. A simple walk around town to question Indians to survey the creditability of MIC and Samy is good enough. Are you willing to do that. MIC members just can’t answer this question truthfully fearing you. Please get the facts right

(2) We must not allow ourselves to become tools of those who wish to split the community for their own agenda

What is there to split when there is unity. Are Indians that vulnerable to be used of as tools. They have been marginalised for donkey years culminating in the destruction of temples, and as a result arose as one to seek readdress and they are not tools of any organisation. Please refrain from speaking of agendas as the Indians just want to be treated fairly.

(3) There are many more things to be done, many more challenges to overcome. So, let us unite for the good of everyone. Unity is our strength.

Are you talking of the future. Hundreds have petitions have been send to the authorities by Hindraf detailing the plight of the Indians. Are you aware of it. How many letters have been sent by MIC – nil I suppose, because MIC is under denial nothing is wrong. It is semuanya-Ok syndrome. Hindraf brought out its list of shortcomings of the Indians and organised a rally. Until today has any reply been offered by the recipients of the letters including Parliament, Ministers, Sultan etc etc. Did you speak about any of the complaints. You said you are fixing a direct telephone communication, have you done that. Are all the accusations by Hindraf, wrong and why can’t they be told. Has anybody replied to Hindraf.

This is all for the moment, wish you happy ponggal.

Moronic Little Napoleons

Read the comments of Simply Putri as it appeared in Malaysiakini:

Simply Puteri
Observations of a Malaysian Iban lady living in the USA

* About

Songkok issue

Posted on January 13, 2008
Filed Under Malaysian News |

When Malaysians see a person wearing a ’songkok’, what is the first thing that comes to your mind regarding his race and religion? Malay and Muslim, right? Or if the person obviously doesn’t look Malay, then that person is of some other race but still a Muslim.

I just read a letter sent to Lim Kit Siang by a parent relating the compulsory use of the ’songkok’ by prefects at the son’s school.

This parent highlighted some interesting issues if the use of the ’songkok’ is forced on non-Malays and non-Muslims. The following are his words.

* IMAGINE a situation where a man wearing a songkok is having a beer, or a group of men are photographed in a pub, all wearing songkoks and each lifting a pint into the air!
* For instance, would Muslims be upset if I were to wear a songkok and have my picture taken witha roast pig and the picture displayed?
* What if my son wears a songkok and eats in a mamak shop during the month of Ramadan? Of if my son wears a songkok, and walks in the park at 7pm with his girlfriend, who is wearing a tudung (she also a non-Muslim!) Imagine the confusion if a non-Muslim boy with songkok were to be seen in this “khalwat” situation with a non-Muslim girl in a tudung (head scarf)?

I think this parent has some valid questions to the issue relating to the compulsory use of the ’songkok’. I see no reason for the wearing of a ’songkok’ at a non religious educational institution.

There is a troubling trend in Malaysia namely, the Islamisation of the culture, as well as the forced domination of the Malay culture upon the non-Malays. The action of a co-ed school where the male and female students are separated comes to mind.

In the early eighties when I entered UiTM, I was one of three non-Malay and non-Muslim female students. Every one of us had to put on a head scarf and a baju kurung which are both a female Malay Muslim dress. If I had not been that timid, I would have objected strongly and refused to wear the outfit during orientation week.

I don’t want to sound pessimistic but when issues like the banning of the use of ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims, the fatwa against the building of a statue of a Chinese deity, the forcible wearing of the ’songkok’, the slapping of female students for not wearing the tudung to school despite it being after school hours, the confiscation of Christian books (according to a Malaysiakini report), and the demolition of Hindu temples, I cannot help but be pessimistic about the future of a multi-racial and multi-religious Malaysia.

It pains me to read that compulsion was used to make a student wear a songkok. This student is young and what type of an impression would he have towards his teachers for forcing him to do something akin to his thinking. Think of the resentment he will have towards the school, teachers. Principal, the authorities and finally the Government. The action could have originated from a Little Napoleon who would have in his zeal for religion thought it best that all Malaysians go around wearing the songkok, to quote our Information Minister, to facilitate monolithic assimilation. But does this moronic educator and a Little Napoleon aware that you can’t change the student to be uniform by just wearing a songkok. In reality he should go around praising sky high the virtues of this head gear and perhaps this student may be tempted to wear one for aesthetic reasons. But hear again religion rises its ugly head and songkok is definitely not suitable for a non-Muslim. Case closed.