Johor govt responsive to the community’s needs

05 March 2010 , By The Star

The Johor government is mindful of the needs of the Indian community and is doing its best to help by allocating land for Tamil schools, temples and agriculture.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said the state never sidelined any community and was always in touch with the needs of the people.

Problems faced by any race should be settled through discussions, he said, adding that this included issues related to Tamil schools, temples and burial areas.

Abdul Ghani acknowledged that, in the last general elections, some people had moved away from the BN Government, but through its people-friendly initiatives, they now supported the BN.

“I have been meeting local MIC leaders and NGOs to find out about the problems of the community,” he said while praising Indian NGOs for looking into issues such as education, religion, social activities and youth.

He was speaking to reporters after meeting with MIC leaders and Indian NGOs at his office here recently.

He also presented a cheque for RM400,000 to the Arulmigu Sri Raja Kaliamman Temple, better known as the glass temple.

Meanwhile, Johor Human Resource, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee chairman M. Asojan, who was among the MIC leaders who paid a courtesy visit to the Mentri Besar, said the MIC was thankful to Abdul Ghani for the state’s help for the community.

“The state gave us 2ha for a Tamil school in Kangkar Pulai costing RM19mil,” he said.

When it is ready at the end of this year, it would accommodate about 1,000 students, he said, adding that about 40ha had been allocated statewide for agriculture activities to young Indian entrepreneurs.

State MIC treasurer and Kahang assemblyman R. Vidyanathan said that regular meetings with Abdul Ghani enabled the MIC to resolve a lot of matters.

“We can bring up issues and many of them get resolved quickly, he said, adding that the MIC would continue to meet the Mentri Besar from time to time.

The MIC delegation was headed by state MIC chief Datuk K.S. Balakrishnan and his deputy M.M. Samy. who is also Permas assemblyman.