Thambirajah, Champion Of Indian Education Dies
SMC co-director Surain Kanda, when contacted by Bernama, said members of the public may pay their last respects tomorrow at SMC Ashramam, Petaling Jaya, Selangor from 10 am to 2 pm, before the final rites at Nirwana Setia Alam at 3 pm.
'Tan Sri was more than just a leader; he was a visionary whose mission was clear - that every Indian home should produce at least one graduate. His efforts transformed the lives of thousands,' he said.
Born in 1942, Thambirajah founded SMC in 1982 with the aim of uplifting Indian students through academic support, personal discipline and self-confidence.
What started as four small centres grew into a nationwide movement with over 103 physical and 128 virtual centres, currently serving more than 10,000 students annually.
An alumnus of the University Malaya (UM), he went on to earn his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Washington, USA, and later completed his LL.B. (Hons) from the University of London. He served as a senior lecturer at UM and authored several influential works, including the history textbook Malaysia Dalam Sejarah.
His lifetime contributions were recognised both in Malaysia and internationally. He was conferred the title Tan Sri in 2012 and received India's highest award for overseas Indians, the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman.
Thambirajah also served on key national advisory bodies, including the Special Implementation Taskforce on the Indian Community and the Social Council under the Prime Minister's Department.
'He believed in action over rhetoric, and service over self,' said Surain, adding that over 52,000 students have graduated through SMC to date.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
6 hours ago
- Barnama
Orang Asli As 'Rakan Digital' Assures Internet Development Takes Root In Village
SEPANG, Aug 20 (Bernama) -- Appointing, training and deploying 'Rakan Digital' from among the Orang Asli community is the most effective step to ensure that the development of new Internet infrastructure has an impact on digital inclusion and reaches the community for socio-economic improvement. Senior lecturer at the Arshad Ayub Graduate School of Business, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UITM), Dr Hamidah Md Yusop said Rakan Digital from the community itself are more suitable to be trained because they understand the culture, language and needs of the Orang Asli community. Hamidah said the majority of the Orang Asli community welcomed internet facilities, several constraints were identified including service disruptions, difficulty contacting customer service lines and issues with setting Internet connection passwords. "To overcome these weaknesses, we propose the deployment of 'Rakan Digital' from among the Orang Asli themselves as reference individuals to assist their own local community, in terms of education, business or basic use of the Internet," she said. She made these remarks after presenting the findings of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in its 'Impact Analysis of Wireless Broadband Internet Services for the Orang Asli and Rural Communities' at the MCMC 2025 Research Symposium here today. Hamidah stated that the study was conducted in September 2022 across seven Orang Asli villages in Johor, Kelantan, Perak and Pahang involving 189 respondents. She said the approach also enabled the empowerment of content and communication in the mother tongue of the Orang Asli community, thus facilitating the delivery of messages more effectively in the native language. 'Although there are NADI (National Information Dissemination Centre) community Internet centres, this more personal approach is believed to be needed to guide the residents,' she said. Elaborating further on the study findings, Hamidah said the problems faced in relation to internet use did not prevent a few Orang Asli communities, especially the young, from embracing online entrepreneurship to showcase the uniqueness of their native products.
The Sun
17 hours ago
- The Sun
Widow keeps husband's legacy alive by flying the Jalur Gemilang
KOTA BHARU: For most people, the Jalur Gemilang, proudly flown every August, is a symbol of love for the homeland. But for one elderly woman, every flag raised around her home carries a far deeper meaning. For Tuan Yah Tuan Yeh, 66, the red, white, blue, and yellow of the national flag not only represent her pride as a Malaysian but also embody the struggle and sacrifice of her late husband, Zahari Abdullah, who once stood as the nation's shield against the communist threat. She recalled that for more than a decade, her husband, who served 13 years in the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), was among the busiest people in Kampung Kubang Bongor, Melor, during the national month. He would tirelessly search for bamboo or wood to make flagpoles to fly the Jalur Gemilang. 'Every year, before August 31, my late husband would begin decorating our house, the padi fields, and the farm with the Jalur Gemilang. He even hung independence-themed banners until Sept 16 to create a festive atmosphere in the village. 'Although he had to spend about RM600 from his own pocket to buy more than 500 flags of various sizes to decorate the fields and our home, he never once complained. 'Three years ago, he even built replica cannons and traditional moon kites from recycled materials, decorated them with the Jalur Gemilang, and placed them near the padi fields and quail pens — all to reignite the spirit of independence,' she told Bernama when met at her home recently. However, since last year, the arrival of August has never been the same. Her husband passed away mid-year after a fall at home, leaving behind cherished memories and an unbroken legacy of patriotism. Determined not to let her husband's spirit be buried with him, this year Tuan Yah — a former nurse at the 1Malaysia Clinic in Jelawat, Bachok — has taken on the responsibility of continuing his efforts to spark patriotism in the village. With the help of her children and neighbours, the mother of four and grandmother of five strung the Jalur Gemilang along the lane and yard of her house. For her, it is both a way to honour her late husband's memory and an expression of her enduring love for the nation. 'Villagers often ask me why I still put up so many Jalur Gemilang even though my husband is gone. 'That is when I tell them about his struggles and the sacrifices of his comrades in the ATM, reminding them that the freedom we enjoy today was earned through the sweat, tears, and lives of members of the security forces who defended our nation's sovereignty,' she said. For Tuan Yah, the Jalur Gemilang is more than just a flag. It is a reminder of her late husband's devotion, a symbol of unity, and an inspiration for the villagers, who now come together to proudly fly the symbol of the country's independence. - Bernama
The Sun
17 hours ago
- The Sun
Results of 2025 SPM repeat examination out tomorrow
KUALA LUMPUR: The results of the 2025 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia Ulangan (SPMU) Examination will be out tomorrow, according to the Ministry of Education (MOE). It said that a total of 10,049 candidates had registered to sit for the repeat examination at 186 examination centres nationwide. 'Candidates can check their 2025 SPMU examination results from Aug 21 to Aug 27 between 10 am and 6 pm,' it said in a statement today. Candidates can check their results online via the website or through the short messaging service (SMS) by typing SPMU followed by the identification card and index number and sending it to 15888. 'The MOE congratulates all candidates on their 2025 SPMU examination results,' it added. - Bernama
