2 Open Houses back to back

In the spirit of Christmas, and the end of year holidays, we had to consecutive open houses.
The first was the Selangor state Christmas and New Year open house held on the 27th December 2008 at the Curve, Damansara. The second was my Sri Andalas open house that was held on the 28th December 2008 at Taman Klang Jaya, Klang.

The open house at the Curve, was a very relaxing and enjoyable evening. There were presentations by solo violinist Joanne Yeoh, and group performances from Deafbeat (YMCA), Operafest, Christian Life Gospel Center, Central Malaya Church Music Association, MBPJ dance troupe & band.

Deafbeat (YMCA) - took the words right out my mouth, as this was a team of auditorily challenged ("deaf") people who were playing drums with absolute precision and timing, plus they danced at the same time.



Oprafest Children's Choir - another amazing performance by a choir of children

"In 1991, through hard work, unstinting persistence, grit and grind, The Operafest Children's Choir became the first Malaysian Choir to have won second place in their presentation of Purcell's SOUND THE TRUMPET in the famous Llangollen, International Eisteddfod, Wales, and third place in the Koorfestival of Arnheim, Holland, a choir olympics held once in every four years.

Since then, The Operafest Children's Choir has been propelled into the international circuit with invitations from abroad to perform in glorious choral festivals which are important thresholds of cultural exchanges and friendship among nations.

To date, The Operafest Children's Choir has performed in Holland, Wales, Spain, Argentina, India, Greece, Macedonia, Australia, Singapore, Indiana, New York and Montana (USA)." READ MORE HERE

Many Tamil schools in Malaysia lack basic facilities

Kuala Lumpur | November 27, 2008 4:09:21 PM IST
from : WEBINDIA

Many Tamil schools do not have basic facilities although the country has been independent for more than 50 years, Malaysia Nanban quoted Selangor state executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar, as saying on Wednesday.

He said some schools were conducting their classes in warehouses and under trees.

He added that in the 1980s and 1990s, many parents were not interested in sending their children to Tamil schools due to the deplorable conditions, which made it unsafe for them.

He said the trend had changed and more Indian parents were eager to send their children to Tamil schools due to the excellent academic performance by students in such schools.

He said there were currently about 30,000 students in Tamil schools in Selangor and about 80 percent of them were from poor families. (ANI)

Hari Kesihatan Ldg Nigel Gardner

HULU SELANGOR 23 Nov 2008

Sekitar Hari Kesihatan Pekerja Ladang Nigel Gardner Hulu Selangor. Dr. Xavier Jayakumar EXCO Negeri Selangor telah turut serta melancarkan program Hari Kesihatan di ladang tersebut.

Dalam ucapannya beliau menegaskan bahawa kerajaan negeri komited untuk menaikan taraf hidup pekerja ladang dan keluarga mereka. Kerajaan juga telah memperuntukkan RM4 Juta untuk membina asrama bagi menempatkan anak-anak pekerja ladang agar mereka mendapat pendidikan yang baik agar mereka mendapatkan pekerja yang baik dalam membantu sosio ekonomi keluarga mereka.

Selepas itu Dr. Xavier juga telah menyampaikan sedikit sumbangan kepada pekerja-pekerja ladang. Beliau juga mengadakan perjumpaan dengan pekerja ladang bagi mendapat input permasalahan mereka.

Indians Towards Entrepreneurship

"Education and training, play an important role in helping people start or transit between careers by providing the tools they need to take on a career. This seminar is the fist of many, which is aimed at providing all of you the opportunity to learn from the presenters and from each other of the options that are available to you"

Saturday 22nd November, Annex Complex, Bangunan SSAAS, Shah Alam - Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar, Selangor State EXCO, said the above when he was officiating the Indians towards Entrepreneurship Seminar, jointly organised by the State Government and Malaysian Indian Business Association (MIBA), that was attended by over 250 youth and entrepreneurs from the Klang Valley.

The one-day Seminar was aimed at boosting the entrepreneurial skills and knowledge of Indian entrepreneurs in the State.

Dr Xavier also said that Pakatan Rakyat must be given the time to alter the mindset of the Government agencies and the GLCs, because they have been subjected to 50 years of BN-policies and tactics.

He also went on to add that he was very concerned for the welfare and economic survival of the growing number of Indian single mothers in Selangor(by defintion : single/abandoned mothers with school-going children).

He ended on a note of caution that all businessmen must brace themselves for the global economic slowdown/crisis that will soon affect Malaysia as well. With that said he hoped all the young people there today, would make full use of this opportunity to learn as much as possible and ask as many questions as they needed to.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCO Kesihatan, Pekerja Ladang, Kemiskinan & Kerajaan Prihatin Negeri Selangor dan Malaysia Indian Business Association (MIBA) telah menganjorkan satu seminar keusahawanan kepada lebih 250 orang belia-belia dan usahawan India hari Ini.

Seminar sehari ini diadakan di bangunan Annex, Bangunan SSAAS, S.U.K Shah Alam dan telah dirasmikan oleh Dr. Xavier Jayakumar EXCO Negeri Selangor. Dalam ucapan alu-aluannya Dr. Xavier menyeru belia dan bakal-bakal usahawan India agar merebut peluang dari segi perniagaan di negeri Selangor. Katanya kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat Negeri Selangor berusaha untuk membantu masyarakat India Negeri Selangor untuk menaikan taraf hidup mereka dalam bidang perniagaan.

Katanya Pakatan Rakyat perlu diberi masa untuk mengujudkan peluang-peluang perniagaan kepada masyarakat India kerana ianya memerlukan masa untuk mengubah 'mindset' agensi-agensi kerajaan dan syarikat GLC milik kerajaan negeri kerana mereka telah 50 tahun mengunapakai sistem yang diamalkan oleh kerajaan sebelumnya.

Beliau juga berharap masyarakat India yang hanya mewakili 7% dari 25 juta penduduk negara ini dapat bekerja dan hidup secara harmoni di dalam masyarakat berbilang bangsa di negara ini. Beliau juga menyeru agar belia-belia yang hadir dapat menimba seberapa banyak pengetahuan dari seminar tersebut.

Beliau juga khuatir dengan nasib dan 'survival' ibu-ibu tunggal India yang semakin bertambah di negeri ini. Beliau juga bimbang tentang pertambahan kemiskinan bandar (urban poverty) yang dijangka semakin meningkat ekoran kejatuhan kewangan global kebelakangan ini dimana ramai dijangka dibuang kerja dalam dua tahun akan datang ini.

Indian Affairs Roundtable

(Versi Bahasa Malaysia dibawah)
Parliament Building, Friday 21st November 2008

A group of about 35 people, consisting of Members of Parliament (Pakatan Rakyat), Members of State Legislative Assemblies, key NGO leaders, professionals and Local Councillors attended a round table discussion last Friday at Parliament Building.

The focus of the round table discussion was the state of Indian Affairs in Malaysia, with an aim to alleviated some of the problems facing the Indian community. It the unique blend of individual at this meeting that allowed the exchange of ideas, and the various roles that these leaders can play in shaping future economic policies of the country.

Some of the main issues that were brought up were the post-March2008 economic state of Indians throughout the country, with a focus on Pakatan Rakyat states. The dicussion centered on several important issues such as education opportunities, Identity Card and Birth Certificate problems, and employment into the civil service.

The mulitdimensional phenomenon of the 'Indian' urban poor was also discussed at great lengths. Possible policies and poverty alleviation strategies were also deliberated.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bangunan Parlimen JUMAAT 21 November 2008

Satu mesyuarat meja bulat telah diadakan di kalangan ahli-ahli Parlimen dan Adun-adun kalangan pemimpin kaum India Pakatan Rakyat telah diadakan di Bangunan Parlimen pada hari ini.

Antara yang hadir ialah YB Kulasegaran-MP Ipoh Barat, Charles Santiago MP Klang, R.Sivarasa MP Subang, YB Manoharan MP Teluk Intan, YB Dr. Xavier Jayakumar EXCO Negeri Selangor dan beberapa orang lain-lain wakil rakyat. Kira-kira 35 orang pemimpin politik, pemimpin kemasyarakatan dan NGO telah hadir dalam mesyuarat tersebut.

Turut serta ialah Dr. Denison Jayasooria, pengerusi Yayasan Strategik Sosial dan Datuk Siva Subramaniam, pesuruhjaya Suhakam. Beberapa orang peguam, NGO dan ahli-ahli Majlis PBT Negeri Selangor turut hadir. Perbincangan merangkumi permasalahan yang dihadapi oleh masyarakat India di Malaysia dan membincangkan pendekatan untuk mengatasinya.

Mereka juga membincangkan masa depan masyarakat India selepas Pakatan Rakyat mengambil alih beberapa negeri selepas piliharaya 8 Mac yang lalu.

Mereka juga membincangkan permasalahan kemiskinan bandar (urban poverty) di kalangan masyarakat India yang semakin meningkat. Beberapa resolusi telah dicapai untuk menaikan taraf hidup dan ekonomi masyarakat India.

State Deepavali Open House

Donation to Dyslexia Association

Thursday, 6th November - Subang Jaya,

I managed to make a quick visit to the Dyslexia Association's Subang Jaya branch Centre on Thursday morning before heading of to Kuang. I met with the teachers and volunteers of the centre, as well as the children who are there for remedial teaching. The state govt. through my office made a donation of RM 10,000 to the Association.

Dyslexia has been a cause that is close to my heart ever since Sheila and I found that our youngest son was Dyslexic about 15 years ago. Dyslexia is a Specific Learning Disability that affects about 10% of children. A Dyslexic child commonly has problems reading and writing, and often mispells words, and write his alphabets backwards. eg. Hostipal, Mostiqo,. But a dyslexic is usually very very intelligent, which is why most parents fail to pick it up, because everyone around the child feels that the kid is just playing the fool. So parents I hope you read and ensure that if your child is facing problems in school you are aware that he may have a learning disability.

In Malaysia, the attention and acknowledgement of Dyslexia is still very backward. Our children still do not get the attention and help they need in Government Schools. The sad part is that even most of the teachers don't know what dyslexia is. My wife Sheila has spent a large part of the last 15 years, telling people about dyslexia. The Centre in Subang Jaya, takes in children and specifically gives them the right tools to learn how to read and spell. They teach them phonics and provide the children a time-frame to get back on track.

You can find more information at these sites :-

http://www.ldworldwide.org
http://www.das.org.sg

The painting I am holding, was a gift from Henry, the young man standing to my right.
Henry is the son of one of the volunteers at the Centre, and he is dyslexic, but this boy paints very beautiful paintings.

Pejabat Persatuan Dyslexia Subang Jaya,

No: 2, Jalan 6/2B, UEP Subang Jaya

Press Release : PKNS issue 31 Oktober

KENYATAAN AKHBAR

31 OKTOBER 2008

Penubuhan Jawatankuasa Pemilihan untuk perlantikan Pengurus Besar Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS)

Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS) dalam mesyuarat Lembaga Pengarah Rabu lalu, telah mengesahkan keputusan Dato Menteri Besar Selangor untuk melanjutkan tarikh persaraan Timbalan Pengurus Korporat dan Akaun Puan Low Siew Moi selama satu tahun. Dalam mesyuarat yang sama, ahli Lembaga Pengarah juga telah bersetuju supaya Puan Low melaksanakan urusan penanggungan kerja sebagai Pengurus Besar PKNS sehingga Pengurus Besar yang baharu dilantik.

Dalam mesyuarat tersebut, Lembaga Pengarah juga telah berbincang mengenai sambutan yang baik yang telah diterima dari Bumiputera professional di dalam dan di luar PKNS yang menyatakan hasrat mereka untuk memikul jawatan Pengurus Besar perbadanan tersebut. Atas sebab itu, pihak Lembaga Pengarah telah membuat keputusan untuk menubuhkan satu jawatankuasa pemilihan untuk meneliti semua permohonan dan seterusnya menyenaraipendekkan calon-calon terbaik untuk dibawa kepada Lembaga Pengarah dan Menteri Besar selaku Pengerusi PKNS.

Jawatankuasa pemilihan tersebut akan dianggotai oleh Encik Zain Azhari, peguam kanan di syarikat guaman Zain & Co, Datuk Azlan Hashim seorang akauntan bertauliah dan dua ahli Lembaga Pengarah PKNS iaitu Ketua Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Dato’ Ramli Mahmud dan Pegawai Kewangan Negeri Dato’ Mohd Ariff Ab Rahman.

Buat masa sekarang, Lembaga Pengarah PKNS sedang mempertimbangkan sebanyak 15 permohonan dikalangan Bumiputera professional yang kebanyakkannya mempunyai pengalaman atau kelayakan dalam bidang pembangunan perumahan dan hartanah.

Calon-calon yang telah disenarai-pendek akan dirujuk kepada satu lagi jawatankuasa teknikal yang terdiri daripada ahli-ahli beberapa persatuan yang berkaitan dengan bidang pembangunan perumahan dan hartanah untuk semakan dan pengesahan kejayaan kerjaya mereka.

Proses menemuduga akan bermula Khamis depan dan PKNS dijangka akan mengumumkan keputusan dalam masa sebulan.

Sekretariat Akhbar

Pejabat YAB. Dato’ Menteri Besar Selangor

Dato Seri's Hari Raya Open House

YB Dr Xavier Jayakumar & Isteri

Dr Xavier , Dato Seri, Datin Seri Wan Azizah & Sheila D.

Dato Seri, Datin Seri Wan Azizah & YB Azmin Ali

Dato Seri, Datin Seri Wan Azizah

Security staff at hospital on strike (The STAR, Online)

Sunday October 12, 2008

Story and Photo by CHRISTINA TAN (courtesy THESTAR Online / The STAR pg 8)

KLANG:
Some 140 security personnel at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR) here went on strike for 15 hours on Friday over a salary dispute. The 70 personnel who were to report for night shift at 8pm, refused to do so. Langahati Kuwak, 54, a security supervisor, said the company, an outsourcing company with the Health Ministry at HTAR, had not paid their basic salary since June. He said their full salary was about RM800 each. “Our life is in limbo now, I have four school-going children in Semporna, Sabah, and I need to send money home,” he said.



Langahati said they were paid a few times a month, between RM100 and RM200 each time. Unhappy workers: Dr Xavier (second right) speaking to the security personnel who went on strike over salary dispute at the Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Saturday. “But the partial salary that I received is not enough even for myself,” he said.

State Health, Plantation Work­ers, Poverty and Caring Govern­ment committee chairman Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar said he had contacted the director of the security company on the matter. “The company has promised to meet with the hospital director to sort out the matter before Wednesday. “If the company fails to do so, the state government might suggest that the hospital write a recommendation letter to the ministry to terminate the services of the security company,” he said.

Dr Xavier said the delay in paying salaries was a serious matter as hospital security would be at stake with no security officers. Dr Xavier added the state government would investigate claims by some of the personnel that their employer had not made contributions to the Employees Provident Fund and Socso.

Meeting the security personnel at the hospital at 11am yesterday, he told them to get back to work and let the hospital management and state government resolve the problem. HTAR director Dr Ghazali Hasni Md Hassan said the security company started its services at the hospital in June. All the security personnel working at the HTAR were Malay­­sians

Rumah Terbuka MB di SUK