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Topic “The Plight of the Indian Community in Malaysia”

Organizer: Civil Rights Committee of KLSCAH , Youth For Change, Orientaldaily, Persatuan Alumnin Persatuan Bahasa Tionghua USM (LIHUA) Selangor and KL

Speakers
S Arutchelvan - PSM Protem Secretary-General

K.Arumugam - Educator, Tamil Foundation

Uthaya Shankar - President Kavyan, Pertubuhan Sasterawanan Kaum India

Rathi Ramanathan - Human rights and anti poverty activist

Chairperson: Chang Lih Kang, CRC KLSCAH member

Languages: English and Malay, with subtitle and Q & A assistance in Chinese

Date: 28 November 2006, Tuesday

Time: 8:00pm

Venue: Auditorium, KLSCAH, 1 Jalan Maharajalela, , 50150 Kuala Lumpur. (beside the Monorail stesen Maharajalela). See map:

A few months ago, the report known as “Proposal for the ninth Malaysian Plan” released by the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI ) aroused some controversial disputes over the conclusion on bumiputra corporate equity ownership and its methodology. It exposed the problems of the government in decision-making process, unfortunately, the public has neglected two chapters in the report which are known as “Low Income Malaysian Indians” and “Bumiputra minorities:The Penan”. They pointed out the plight of these minority groups and also recommended some government plans to improve their living standard.

In the last 50years, not only the non-bumiputras are marginalized, the disadvantaged groups are also marginalized in every respect of development, including politics , economics, social and culture. Each ethnic groups have accustomed themselves to care about their own groups, very little attention were paid to the other groups who are also in need. In order to raise the public awareness towards the plight of these minorities, Civil Rights Committee of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) will be having a seminar “The plight of Malaysian Indians “.

The key findings in the “Proposal for the ninth Malaysian Plan” states : ” Malaysian Indians are increasingly being marginalized, economically as well as socially. More than 30% of Indians do not own a house; over 300,000 Indian poor have been evicted from their plantation livelihoods and residences; and there were 21.1 suicides per 100,000 Indians in year 2005, the highest rate amongst all communities. Indians also have the lowest life expectancy at birth amongst the major races “.

The president of the MIC Samy Vellu said that he wants an increase in Indian equity owernship, which now stands at 1.3%, to 3% in the next five years. However, is the suggestion suit the remedy to the case? Can the increase of equity share improve the living standard of the Indian community?

Some statistics show that,the number of Tamil schools have decreased from 720 to 524 since 1963. In the past 20 years, the closure of plantations has caused many workers unemployed. They become the low income groups in the urban areas due to lack of skills and qualifications. The young Indians in this impoverished group are often lack of opportunities in pursuing higher education or better careers, they are impotent and disillusioned. The social exclusion As the results, many young Indians involved in gangsters and crimes, and thus created serious social problems.

We believe that it is an integral and essential task for us to have a comprehensive understanding of the problems of disadvantaged groups. Therefore, we are honoured to invite 4 speakers from various background to probe into this issue in the aspect of politic, economic, poverty, culture and religion. We cordially invite you and your friends to attend this activities.