𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶 𝗔𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗱, 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

𝙋𝙎 : 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝘽𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙈𝙊𝙃. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙪𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣 𝙪𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨.

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲 : 𝟭𝟵 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬 (𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆)

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶 𝗔𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗱, 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Following the request of MIC President YB Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran I had a very fruitful and productive meeting with the Minister of Higher Education YB Datuk Dr. Noraini Ahmad today.

First and foremost I’d like to thank YB Datuk Dr. Noraini and her office for their gracious gesture of meeting my team and I and hearing our suggestions openly even with her very busy schedule.

Among the issues we highlighted touched on the subject of students who can’t go back to their hometowns due to the restrictions to travelling imposed.

Though the hostels have been directed to keep their canteens open yet we hope that vegetarian food can be provided to students who are vegetarians as well since they would not be able to go out of the campus.

Also we brought up the matter of whether the UPU is the only way to apply for higher education and under which ministry does it fall since the ministry is now been divided into Higher Education and Education.

We also asked for the final date for application to all public institutions of higher learning be postponed due to the Covid 19 virus pandemic. This is because most roadshows to educate the applicants can’t be carried out and hence can’t meet its objectives.

Students need the right advice to make the best informed decision for themselves and a postponement of the application deadline would allow this to take place.

Finally we requested the minister to fulfil the Barisan Nasional's promise to allocate 2200 places for Indians specifically in the Matriculation program. The number of Indians have dropped dramatically under the previous government and we urged her to please remedy this situation.

The minister was very open to listening and assured that the ministry is committed to ensuring the safety security well being of all students and will do all that is possible to ensure Malaysia’s academic roadmap continues to soar upwards.

I’d like to thank YB Datuk Dr. Noraini and her team again for their warm welcome and concern.

I’m confident the ministry will do well and grow from strength to strength under the honourable Ministers stewardship.

P.Kamalanathan,

Central Working Committee

Chairman, MIC Education Bureau

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𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐡 : 𝟏𝟗 𝐌𝐚𝐜 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎 (𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐬)

𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐲𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐤 𝐃𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐀𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐝, 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢 𝐝𝐢 𝐊𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐤𝐚𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐠𝐢

Atas nasihat YB Senator Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran Presiden MIC, saya selaku Ahli Majlis Tertinggi dan Pengerusi Biro Pendidikan MIC telah mengadakan satu perjumpaan khas dengan YB Datuk Dr. Noraini Ahmad, Menteri di Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi, Malaysia untuk membincangkan isu - isu hal ehwal pendidikan tinggi.

Antara perkara yang telah saya kongsikan kepada YB Menteri adalah isu -isu yang sedang dihadapi oleh mahasiswa/mahasiswi di kampus institusi pengajian tinggi yang tinggal di hostel berikutan daripada Arahan penyekatan pergerakkan yang diumumkan oleh kerajaan sebagai langkah mengatasi penularan wabak Covid 19.

Salah satunya ialah isu Makanan ‘vegetarian’ kerana ada segelintir mahasiswa yang tinggal dalam kampus menghadapai kesukaran untuk mendapatkan makanan sayuran maka saya mengutarakan cadangan supaya makanan 'vegetarian' turut disediakan bagi membolehkan mahasiswa/siswi tidak mengikat perut atau bergantung kepada roti sahaja.

Saya juga telah berkongsi pandangan saya kepada YB Menteri mengenai sistem permohonan UPU yang dipertanggungjawabkan untuk mengurus permohonan kemasukan pelajar - pelajar ke Institut Pendidikan Tinggi (IPT). Sistem UPU yang sedia ada perlu ‘dipisahkan’ berikutan Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi telah berpisah dan menjadi dua kementerian yang berlainan. Ini membolehkan para pelajar mempunyai pilihan untuk memutuskan jurusan pendidikan yang mereka gemar.

Saya juga telah mencadangkan YB Datuk Noraini untuk melanjutkan tarikh tutup permohonan le IPT berikutan daripada penularan wabak Covid 19. Ini kerana ramai lepasan SPM dan STPM masih belum membuat keputusan akan jurusan yang mereka mahu mohon malah larangan pergerakan ini telah mengekang pergerakkan mereka ke seminar pendidikan, oleh itu dengan lanjutan tarikh akhir ini, para lepasan SPM dan STPM mempunyai cukup waktu untuk membuat keputusan.

Isu penempatan Matrikulasi kepada pelajar - pelajar india adalah salah satu intipati penting yang saya telah utarakan kepada YB Menteri dan saya memohon agar YB Menteri dapat meneruskan janji Kerajaan Barisan Nasional untuk mengagihkan 2200 tempat kepada pelajar India dalam program matrikulasi. Bilangan penempatan pelajar India di Matrikulasi telah menjunam secara mendadak di bawah pemerintahan kerajaan PH sehingga ramai anak - anak yang layak mendapat tempat, tidak dapat pergi ke Matrikulasi.

Saya ingin merakamkan setinggi-tinggi penghargaan dan ucapan terima kasih kepada Datuk Noraini kerana sudi berjumpa saya walaupun beliau sibuk. Saya sangat yakin dengan kepimpinan Datuk Noraini dalam memacu Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi Malaysia dan akan mengharumkan nama negara dalam dunia akademik serta meninggikan mutu dan kualiti graduan masa depan.

P. Kamalanathan

Ahli Majlis Tertinggi MIC

Pengerusi Biro Pendidikan MIC

Maths and Science in English

I applaud the PM’s decision to teach Maths and Science in English.

It’s definitely a step forward in ensuring our students are equipped to succeed in a world where English and science are important factors in a nations growth and prosperity.

However when this policy was last introduced then rescinded there were many factors that lead to it.

Among the chief reasons were the fact that the science and maths teachers weren’t proficient enough in English to deliver their subjects effectively.

We can’t have English teachers teaching maths and science but teachers who are science and maths graduates to teach well in English.

The reasons why the policy was reversed the first time should be studied deeply and the policy should only be implemented when all shortcomings and gaps are overcome.

Also a very comprehensive and deep engagement should take place with the stakeholders to ensure they see the importance and relevance of the policy and embrace the change.

This would also be key in making the policy a success.

These steps take time and the ministry should be given leeway time wise to comprehensively and holistically evaluate analyse and solve all issues so that in the future the policy isn’t reversed again.

P.Kamalanathan

MIC Education Bureau Chairman & Member of the Central Working Committee

Pongal and MOE

One of Malaysia’s greatest strengths and assets are her multi cultural population that bring together all forms celebrations that foster unity in our diversity.

This is a very unique feature of Malaysia that is envied all across the world.

However a recent circular by the education ministry did cause some uneasiness and definitely is not in the spirit Of Malaysian Unity.

The circular is designed to make the harvest festival of Pongal become a religious one and exempting our brothers and sisters of different faiths from taking part in the celebration.

Pongal is essentially a day of thanksgiving and gratitude to nature who allowed a bountiful harvest to come to fruition.

Across Tamil Nadu and its other neighbouring states this harvest festival is no different from the Keamatan festival in Sabah and Hari Gawai in Sarawak.

It’s a day farmers irrelevant of religion celebrate a bountiful harvest and thank Mother Nature for her fertile soil, adequate rain and healthy sunlight that were the foundation of a good harvest.

The farmers come together with family and friends and celebrate this day by offering guests and friends sweetened milk rice as a way of celebrating and spreading the cheer of a good harvest.

The festival has been celebrated with the spirit of unity and brotherhood for the last sixty years with many former Prime Ministers even taking part in the celebration.

Why this sudden aversion to it suddenly?

The silence of the Indian Ministers have done little to allay the fears and discontent the circular has raised and if not the Indians in the cabinet who else can the Malaysian Indians depend on to raise issues related to them?

With this in mind I visited the Ministry of Education and met Dr. Habibah Abd. Rahim the acting Directer General of the Ministry and her team to bring up the matter.

They were very cordial and professional in listening and noting our disappointment of the circular and have committed to look into the matter. I’m very hopeful that the Ministry pull back the circular and encourage everyone to embrace and understand the unique amalgamation of diversity in the nation.

Malaysians should always strive to better understand and embrace each other in order to foster a united and strong nation.

Celebrations like Pongal, Hari Gawai, Keamatan are just different ways of celebrating a bountiful harvest in the spirit of peace prosperity and unity and everybody should nurture such practises as a tool for unity and not use it to divide the people.

I hope the education ministry clarifies this and intimately recants the circular and allows all Malaysians to come together and celebrate a better future for all.

P. Kamalanathan

MIC Central Working Committee

Chairman, MIC Education Bureau.

Dr.Maszlee is the symptom not the cause.

The recent resignation of the Minister of Education Dr.Maszlee Malik is something that shocked the country being the first resignation of a PH minister in their 20 month government.

First and foremost I must congratulate Dr.Maszlee in making this very bold and brave decision on resigning.

It’s not easy to walk away from such a big and important position and takes a lion’s heart to accept one’s failure and do the right things.

I also sympathise with him in regard to the news focus which sometimes is more sensational and non academic than on tangible educational successes.

My years as a Deputy Education Minister was challenging, as an example the vast majority of 500 000 teachers are committed and responsible educators who strive to do their job well but the one bad apple makes news headlines while the majority sacrifices and successes are ignored.

Education is a very politically and practically very important part of our nation’s psyche.

In fact just a simple count of 5 million students in our primary and secondary schools mean 10 million parents are stakeholders and it’s difficult to get consensus among even 10 people sometimes , what more 10 million.

However the resignation of Dr.Maszlee though commendable isn’t enough.

Dr.Maszlee is the symptom not the cause. If performance was the criteria then many in the cabinet are in jeopardy. The PM himself gave them 50% during their one year anniversary, in 5 months would be 2 years but I doubt the performance will see any major improvement though some maybe worse.

The fact is the PH government is floundering because they have promised the world and now are unable to deliver. In almost all aspects of the nation from economic growth to racial relations things have become worse across the board since the new government was formed.

The people who voted for change stand disappointed and betrayed and yet the PH coalition is still mired in both internal party politics and national leadership tussles rather than focusing on the prime responsibility which is governing well for the people.

The sad truth is PH vehicle is on the way to a major breakdown and an overhaul might not be enough. Maszlee’s resignation is just a drop in the ocean of bad policies and decisions affecting the peace and prosperity of Malaysians.

The people wanted change but what they got for the last 18 months were just lies, more lies & excuses!

P.Kamalanathan
Central Working Committee Member of the Malaysian Indian Congress and
Chairman, Education Bureau MIC.