THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF INDIANS

 I received the following:

 

   

My Comments :

There are many types of Indians. But before that we really do not know exactly how many Indians there are in Malaysia. Strangely while the absolute numbers of all the racial groups in the country are increasing the number of Indians seems to be shrinking.

For the past 24 years (since 2000) the "official census" indicates the number of Indians in Malaysia has been stagnant at around 2.0 million people or getting less (1.7 million to 1.8 million ??) But all the other races are increasing in their absolute numbers. Absolute numbers means the actual head count or the actual kira kepala. Why is the Indian population decreasing in its absolute numbers? Is that really true?

But the number of Tamil Hindu owned restaurants (especially the banana leaf restaurants - yumm yumm) is increasing. And for breakfast and lunch ALL OF THEM are usually full to the max capacity with mostly Hindu Tamil visitors. Yet the absolute numbers of Indians is decreasing? Strange.

Could it be that the Tamil Muslims (who are said to number over 350,000 people) are not counted as Indians anymore? I am just guessing here. That could be one plausible reason.

The large majority of Indians in Malaysia are Tamils - Hindus, Muslims and Christians combined.  There are a significant number of Sri Lankan Tamils  as well. But Tamils are Tamils.  Then there are other Indians like the Malayalis, the Punjabis etc.  Two of our prime ministers are of Indian origin - one Malayali Muslim and one more Tamil Muslim origin.

I believe the grievance in the above  messages refers to the Indian Hindu Tamil community. Again this is the largest Indian community in Malaysia. They easily make up 75% to 80% of the Indians in Malaysia.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.

FROM 2014

 

After Microsoft talks, Anwar to meet Google

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim greeting well-wishers at an Aidilfitri gathering in Alor Setar, Kedah, today. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim tonight revealed that he will be meeting representatives from tech giant Google next week.

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, did not elaborate further. However, the meeting with Google comes days after he met with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.

“Next week, Google will meet me,” he told attendees at the Madani Aidilfitri celebrations in Kedah, at which Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor was also present.

In November, Anwar had met with Google president and chief investment officer Ruth Porat, Google Asia Pacific president Scott Beaumont and Google global vice-president of government affairs and public policy Karan Bhatia.

Google and Putrajaya subsequently announced a strategic collaboration to help businesses advance their digital competitiveness through skilling programmes, investment in digital infrastructure, responsible artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, and cloud-first policies.

On Thursday, the investment, trade and industry ministry announced that Microsoft Corp would invest RM10.5 billion in cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure in Malaysia over the next four years.

The US tech giant had pledged in 2021 to invest RM4.12 billion in Malaysia over five years to build hyper-scale data centres and provide cloud services. - FMT

Anwar to Sanusi: "I am a simple person, if you speak properly we can resolve everything."

 

Anwar made the remarks in his speech at the Madani Aidilfitri 2024 celebration held at Tasik Darulaman here this evening, after Sanusi extended his apologies to the prime minister in the spirit of Hari Raya celebration during his welcoming speech. - NSTP/WAN NABIL NASIR

KUBANG PASU: In a rare occasion, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim poked fun at Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi in public, telling the Kedah Menteri Besar that things can be resolved easily if the latter speaks up in a proper manner.

Anwar made the remarks in his speech at the Madani Aidilfitri 2024 celebration held at Tasik Darulaman here this evening, after Sanusi extended his apologies to the prime minister in the spirit of Hari Raya celebration during his welcoming speech.

Anwar said this while announcing an immediate approval to an allocation application of between RM30 million to RM40 million requested during a state development briefing session that he attended earlier today.

"In eradicating hardcore poverty, we put priority on people's centric projects. That is why the Rural and Regional Development Ministry and the Housing and Local Government Ministry are working together to develop the People's Housing Project.

"We will integrate this initiative with the state government's proposal to develop 'kampung tersusun' for the poor families, I have asked it to be coordinated (with the ministries), if there is a need for additional allocation of between RM30 million to RM40 million, I will approve immediately for the sake of the poor people.

"I wish to inform Datuk Sanusi, I am simple person. If you speak up properly we can resolve everything," quips Anwar with a broad smile as the crowd were left in stitches.

Anwar acknowledged that he and Sanusi have some minor differences and approaches but that should not be a big problem.

"We should work together to resolve the people's issues. Yes, we have some differences in opinions and approaches but that should not be an issues," he said.

Anwar also responded to Sanusi's apologies by extending his personal apologies to the menteri besar, in conjunction with the Hari Raya celebration.

"Under the spirit of lessons, we learnt from the month of Ramadan, we must improve our kindness. It is a challenge to all of us to really do what we preach.

"I wish also to thank the menteri besar.. I hardly express my gratitude to the menteri besar but I wish to extend my appreciation to the menteri besar and state exco members for a proper welcoming for the federal delegation led by me (to Wisma Darul Aman) earlier today," he said.

In his speech, Anwar also announced a joint initiative between the federal and the state governments to liberate some 2,500 families in Kedah from the hardcore poverty trap within two months.

He stressed that hardcore poverty should be put to an end as it is illogical that there are a group of people who are living without proper meals, shirts and pocket money for children to attend school.

"I wish for the full cooperation extended by the state government to the federal agencies under the ICU (Implementation Coordination Unit).

"We want to liberate the 2,500 families from harcore poverty trap within two months as the main example how we can end hardcore poverty issue in Kedah.

"I believe this cooperation with yield good results, we don't want Malay-majority states to have Malay and Muslim families living under such hardship," he said. - NST

In the spirit of Hari Raya, Sanusi extends apologies to Anwar

 

Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has extended apologies on behalf of himself and the state government to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for any inappropriate remarks while carrying out his duties as the Kedah Menteri Besar. - NSTP/ WAN NABIL NASIR.

KUBANG PASU: Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has extended apologies on behalf of himself and the state government to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for any inappropriate remarks while carrying out his duties as the Kedah Menteri Besar.

Sanusi also extended the same apologies to members of the Cabinet, acknowledging that mistakes are inevitable as a fallible human being.

He expressed hopes that their meeting during the Madani Aidilfitri celebration 2024 held at Tasik Darulaman here this evening would mark the beginning of a new chapter, allowing them to proceed with pure hearts, sincerity, and responsibility in safeguarding the people's interests.

"I would like to express my highest appreciation to the Prime Minister and Cabinet members for their willingness to spare time to visit Kedah and share their views on the development efforts planned in this state.

"Indeed, such attention and support are greatly desired as we together face increasingly challenging economic and social circumstances.

"At this juncture, as an ordinary human being who is not infallible, I seek forgiveness on behalf of myself and the state government, if during my tenure as Menteri Besar and in my political capacity, I have made any inappropriate remarks in the context of interpersonal relationship.

"As fallible human beings, mistakes are inevitable. May this meeting in 'Syawal' serve as an opportunity for us to start afresh, to move forward together with pure hearts, sincerity, and responsibility in our efforts to defend the interests of the people," he said during his welcoming speech.Sanusi stressed that the welfare of the people should outweigh the eagerness to retain political power.

"On the other hand, matters pertaining to administration and governance should be conducted based on their principles.

"This will ensure that as politicians elevated to leadership positions, we remain vigilant and cautious in all situations, including when expressing views and making requests to ensure that the interests of the people are always prioritised.

"Therefore, we, in the state administration always hope that this state will continue to receive attention and not be side lined," he added.

Commenting further, Sanusi said that he did not intend to give a political lecture as leaders present at the ceremony are considered as his 'elder brothers' with far more experience in the political arena.

"This is just for reflection and self-assessment. I greatly appreciate this meeting because, for me, this is a very meaningful moment to unite all our hearts in one struggle and minimise differences," he said.

Meanwhile, Sanusi also expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for assuring that the federal government will pay attention to development projects in the state, especially in rural areas.

"I also hope that the development plans proposed by the state government in Kedah, including Kedah Aerotropolis, which requires federal government approval, will be approved promptly," he said. - NST

“Entrepreneur Minister Ramanan is the one who should be admitted to mental hospital for blindly defending PMX”

 

DEPUTY Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister R. Ramanan (main image, fourth from right) has defended Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for his services to the Indian community.

He said those who deny this fact should check their mental capacity at the Tanjung Rambutan Mental Hospital.

He then went on to mention the various finance disbursements to Indians, including the RM100 mil to the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (MITRA).

But I think if there is a need for anybody to check his/her mental state, then it would certainly be Ramanan.

Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister R. Ramanan

 

As a man who parachuted from MIC to PKR under dubious political circumstances, Ramanan needs to engage in apple polishing to earn the political rewards he was aiming for..

The financial aid given to the Indian community are not all financial grants but loans and other forms of disbursements.

Collectively, the value of financial assistance would not even reach the RM200 mil mark. Such assistance is no way comparable to the hefty sum in billions accorded to the Bumiputera community in the country.

Politician with baggage

In actual fact, the financial assistance given to Indians are minuscule or a mere drop in the ocean.

It has been well-established that financial grants for the Indian community are fraught with problems of accountability as to whether the funds actually reach the target groups and others.

Ramanan’s reference to the financial assistance to the Indian community by the government is a laughable pittance.

David Marshel

 

Given this, what is the point of praising Anwar’s unity government sky high for the financial pittance given to the Indian community?

The Sungai Buloh MP should be ashamed of himself for blindly praising Anwar without consideration of the nature of the financial aid accorded to the Indian community.

If Ramanan is unable to distinguish fact and fiction, then he should be the right person to be referred to a mental hospital for check-up. If his situation worsens, then a mental asylum might be the preferred choice for him.

As a matter of public interest, Ramanan should divulge the information why he resigned from MIC as its former treasurer-general. What were the circumstances that prompted him to leave the party?

Beyond this, Ramanan should also explain whether he was allegedly involved in a fraud case some 10 years ago.

A man with baggage like Ramanan certainly needs a counselling session in differentiating fact from fiction.

Ramanan should be reminded that the fault lies not so much in others but those who are managing the government. Good governance requires the government to listen to critical views of others. 

David Marshel is deputy chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai).
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.

- Focus Malaysia

After KFC and Texas Chicken, Nando’s next target for consumer ire over shrinking portions

 

THE recent suspension of over a hundred KFC outlets nationwide has highlighted to many the power of the consumer.

Whether linked to Pro-Palestine boycott or just customers fed up with KFC’s dip in quality and value, the temporary closure of so many of the pioneering fried chicken franchise outlets linked to American businessman Colonel Harland David Sanders indicate that customers can indeed make a difference when they collectively turn their backs on a brand.

Many consumers believe that the problems besetting Colonel Saunder’s famous chain is due to a drop in quality with its miniscule-sized chicken pieces frequently highlighted on social media. Other franchises such as Texas Chicken have also come under fire for similar reasons.

The latest restaurant chain to be scrutinised is Nando’s. In a post shared on the Meanwhile in Malaysia Facebook forum, a netizen using the handle Aya Chen berated the unsatisfactory portion of chicken served at the Pavilion outlet.

The post was accompanied by images which show the chicken thigh seemingly dwarfed by the chips!

The post has generated plenty of comments not least the fact that there seems to be a competition going on among these restaurants on who could do worse.

Facebook user Nniesa Moy simply commented that the “chicken was so sad” while Devinder Singh provided further pictorial evidence of dwindling portions.

Some hilariously observed that the meal pictured was a French fries special with a ‘side order’ of chicken.

Both Hanis Abas and Came Cameron asked if the chicken was on a diet while another FB user TalonQueen Valionaxus queried whether the bird served was chicken or quail. These comments clearly indicate many consumers feel they are not getting their money’s worth at some of these restaurants.

Some netizens were inspired by Hollywood for their captions with one hilariously paraphrasing a memorable line from a Star Wars film, hinting that this could be the new trend among outlets serving chicken.

Let’s hope this isn’t the case lest these other restaurant chains want to face the same predicament as Colonel Saunder’s. One netizen summed up the sentiments best with a simple comment.

- Focus Malaysia