PS-Letter to PM on Indian's condition on BC and Tamil School

Y.A.B.. DATO’ SERI ABDULLAH AHMAD BADAWI
Prime Minister of MalaysiaBlock Utama,
Bangunan Perdana Putra,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
62502Putrajaya Email: reduceredtape@pmo.gov.my
Email: abdullah@kdn.gov.my

Tel: 03 8888 8000
Fax: 03 8888 3444 14/06/2008

Y.A.B,

Re: (1) 40,000 Indian children denied birth certificate in the state of Selangor alone

(2) Education Minister gives circular last year to stop all pupils without birth certificates from attending Tamil schools.

(3) Hindu Temple demolished at Jalan Sentul by DBKL Mayor (Tamil Nesan 10/6/08 front page)

(4) Tamil schools not fully aided even after 50 years of independence

We refer to the above matter and to the news report in Tamil Nesan dated 13/6/08 front page which coincidentally falls exactly six months today since the four Hindraf lawyers had been detained and punished without trial under the draconian ISA for raising the critical Indian issues like the above.

Be that as it may we would not be deterred from bringing to your kind attention the aforesaid critical Indian issues and as was outlined in our 18 point demands dated 12/8/07 and personally handed over to your goodselves Senior Private Secretary on the same day.

It is a national disgrace that despite 50 years of independence, 40,000 Indian children have been denied even their birth certificates by the UMNO controlled Malaysian government. (Estimated 150,000 nationwide) These poor and innocent children somehow on many occasions have managed to enter, enroll and study at Tamil schools. This way they at least get to complete their primary school education as the Malay secondary schools would not admit them. How ever to add insult to injury the Education Minister had with effect from late last year sent out a circular not to admit Indian pupils without birth certificates into Tamil schools which we view as a further oppression and suppression of the Indians in Malaysia.

We applaude the National Registration Department (NRD) going to orang asli villages in the remotest jungles that does not even have roads. But to the contrary 40,000 Indian children in Selangor alone are not treated the same way (Contrary to Article 8 of the Federal Constitution which provides for equality before the law) even in Malaysia’s most developed state i.e. the state of Selangor.

We also regretfully note that the first Hindu Temple has been indiscriminately demolished by the K.L. City Hall since the 25th November 2007 Hindraf peaceful assembly. We hereby appeal that the Prime Minister’s office issues an urgent circular to all the relevant state authorities to:-

1) Ensure that all Indian children from Malaysia are issued with birth certificates with the supporting letter of two Malaysian citizens who can vouch for the same. And that the NRD takes a pro active stand and go to the ground and solve this long out standing problem by six months.

2) The Education Minister authorizes all Tamil schools to compulsorily admit any Indian pupil even without birth certificates and that the circular dated late last year barring entry without birth certificates is thereby revoked and of no effect.

3) All 523 Tamil schools are made fully aided Tamil Schools and given equal status, funds, facilities, staff and teachers like any other Malay Muslim school.

4) Forthwith stop the indiscriminate demolishment of all Hindu Temples as in the state of Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kelantan.

Your kind indulgence in this matter would be greatly appreciated

Thank you,

Yours faithfully.


…………………………….
P. Waytha Moorthy
(Chairman)