ADUN SPEAKS | If the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is serious about helping the Indian community, I suggest he gives them a Deepavali present in the form of an approval for the setting up of a Tamil secondary school in the state of Penang immediately.

Hundreds and thousands of Indians in the country will be celebrating their annual Deepavali festival tomorrow. For most, like other festivals in Malaysia, Hindu Indians will be inviting their relatives and friends for their open house functions. Deepavali will be a joyous occasion for most Indians, something that they and their families look forward to.

It is during Deepavali that they forget their worries and concerns to celebrate the festival of lights; a festival that symbolises the victory of good over evil. But surely, even if Indians do not expect much from the government, it would be wise for the federal government to make some important announcements that will benefit the community.

Such announcements will go down well with the community that has contributed in blood and tears for the development and modernisation of the country.

Indians do not expect an earth-shaking announcement from the federal government, but surely Najib who has been recently declared as the “father” of Indian development can come up with one or two announcements before Deepavali to show his appreciation for the community.

On this matter, I would like to suggest that Najib should announce that he has given the approval for the setting up of a first Tamil secondary school in Penang.

Why Penang? It was the Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who first mooted the idea of a secondary Tamil school in the state some years ago. He wrote two letters to the education minister on this matter but unfortunately, the proposal was shot down on the grounds that it contradicted the Education Act.

MIC that regards itself as the “mother” party of Indians refused to take up the matter, but on the contrary, suggested that Indian parents should send their children to primary Tamil schools rather than to think about a Tamil secondary school. This remark came from none other than the Deputy Education Minister, P Kamalanathan , the infamous “yes” man for Umno.

It is not that a Tamil secondary school should be located in Penang; it can be located in other states that have sizable Indian population. But at least in Penang, the chief minister has promised that if the federal government approves the proposal, the state government would provide a piece of suitable land free of charge.

This is the reason why Penang is attractive for the establishment of a first secondary Tamil school. Perhaps after Penang, Tamil secondary schools could be established in other states provided other state governments are willing to come up with the suitable land.

I don’t understand how the setting up of a Tamil secondary school in the country would contradict with the Education Act. There are Malay, English, Arabic, Chinese and even Japanese secondary schools in the country. Some of these are private ones, whereas others are public secondary schools.

I am suggesting not for private secondary Tamil schools, but schools that would be completely financed by the government with a curriculum similar to other public secondary schools. If the government wants to model the Tamil secondary schools along the lines of bantuan modal (partially funded), then the community leaders can give their views.

The majority of the present Tamil primary schools in the country fall into the category of bantuan modal schools. But the preference would for the establishment of bantuan penuh (fully aided) Tamil secondary schools.

MIC and other Indian mosquito parties that are aligned with BN talk so much about the Indian community, but its leaders simply lack the guts to take up the challenge of a Tamil secondary school. Maybe they are embarrassed that the idea came from an opposition leader, but if they really think of the well-being of the community, it does not matter where the idea came from, as long as the idea is good for the community.

If he could give the green light for the setting up of a Tamil secondary school in the country for Indians, then this would be the best Deepavali present for Indians.

The establishment of a Tamil secondary school in Penang would be the best start not only in terms of strengthening Tamil education in the country but also as recognition that the Tamil language is on par with other languages such as English, Malay, Chinese, Japanese and Arabic.

Such a move will be in line with the respect and dignity that Indians deserve.

P RAMASAMY is Penang Deputy Chief Minister II and Perai assemblyperson.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.