Latest news with #SateesMuniandy
Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Ex-DAP rep mocks Penang MIC's move to quit BN
Penang MIC chief J Dhinagaran said a motion to leave the Barisan Nasional coalition was passed at the party's state-level AGM on Friday. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Former DAP assemblyman Satees Muniandy has mocked Penang MIC's decision to follow the lead of the party's Kedah chapter by supporting a move to leave Barisan Nasional. Satees, who is now with Urimai, said MIC in Penang continued to enjoy positions and titles, yet still cries wolf about being sidelined. 'The Penang MIC chairman accepted the post of commissioner of the Penang Hindu Endowment Board, a position made possible only through the BN-Pakatan Harapan political pact in the state. 'If they truly had dignity and genuinely felt sidelined by Umno within BN, why accept the post at all?' he said in a statement. Satees said that if Penang MIC had any real dignity, it would reject the Penang Hindu Endowment Board appointment that comes from BN's quota. He also claimed that MIC members have been receiving state awards based on nominations from their own party. 'The reality is this so-called Penang MIC drama is nothing more than an attempt to gain more perks. The Indian community in Penang can only laugh at this farce,' he said. Yesterday, New Straits Times reported Penang MIC chief J Dhinagaran as saying that the motion to leave the coalition was passed at the party's state-level annual general meeting on Friday. However, he said that the final decision would be made by the MIC president and its central working committee. Dhinagaran claimed that Umno 'is not sharing any opportunities with us and only wants all the positions for themselves'. These opportunities include seats, positions in government-linked companies, and councillor posts. Kedah MIC also passed a motion at its AGM on Friday to work with Perikatan Nasional for the next general election. The state chapter's chairman, SK Suresh, said, however, that the motion would be brought to the central leadership for a final decision.
Malaysiakini
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Focus on problems in 13MP, not lawmaker's May 13 remark
An Urimai leader has berated DAP lawmakers for trying to divert public attention from the weaknesses in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) by harping on a PAS MP's May 13 remark. Urimai secretary Satees Muniandy said whether Pendang MP Awang Hashim is guilty of any offence for his remark would be up to the Dewan Rakyat speaker or the Committee of Rights and Privileges to decide.
Malaysiakini
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Focus on problems in 13MP, not lawmaker's May 13 remark
An Urimai leader has berated DAP lawmakers for trying to divert public attention from the weaknesses in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) by harping on a PAS MP's May 13 remark. Urimai secretary Satees Muniandy said whether Pendang MP Awang Hashim is guilty of any offence for his remark would be up to the Dewan Rakyat speaker or the Committee of Rights and Privileges to decide.
Free Malaysia Today
24-07-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Urimai threatens legal action over ban of non-Penangite traders
Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow had said traders from outside Penang were not banned, but allowed to organise Indian-related sales fairs between April and June. GEORGE TOWN : A former Penang assemblyman says he will consider taking legal action against the state government over a policy barring out-of-state Indian traders from organising fairs. Urimai secretary Satees Muniandy said the move to restrict traders was unconstitutional and discriminatory, noting that the Federal Constitution prohibits discrimination by public authorities based on place of residence or business. 'Should the state continue to ignore these calls, Urimai will pursue every legal and democratic avenue to overturn this unjust rule that unfairly targets Indian traders and consumers,' the former Bagan Dalam elected representative said in a statement. Last Friday, FMT reported that local government enforcement officers drew flak after a video showing them taking action against stallholders at a trade fair in Bukit Mertajam went viral. In a now-deleted TikTok video shared by the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP), enforcement officers were seen issuing compound notices to traders selling sarees and other Indian-themed goods. The officers were also heard describing the event, held earlier this month, as illegal, while traders were told that they were in violation of two rules – they were not Penang residents, and they were selling 'Indian-themed items' outside the allowed period. The council's actions were, however, in line with a state policy, currently implemented by the two city councils, that restricts Indian trade or sales fairs organised by non-Penang traders in a bid to protect local businesses. Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow has since defended the policy, saying it was introduced more than five years ago after the Penang Indian Chamber of Commerce raised concerns that traders from outside the state were affecting the incomes of local businesses. He said traders from outside Penang were not banned, but allowed to organise Indian-related sales fairs between April and June. MBSP also maintained that the policy was not racially motivated and that cultural trade fairs were still permitted outside of the restricted period, subject to guidelines. However, Satees today said that the broader ban was hurting both traders and consumers by reducing competition and limiting access to culturally significant and affordable goods. 'This is an anti-consumer rule. It restricts choice and inflates prices. Satees asked the state to reveal how many actual traders had complained and accused the state of kowtowing to a small group of textile businesses. He also called on the federal government, particularly law and institutional reforms minister Azalina Othman Said, to advise Penang to review the policy in line with constitutional principles.
