Samy Vellu should ensure that there is no hanky-panky in the disbursement of RM3.2 million to help 80 Indian students studying medicine stranded in Trinidad and Tobago


Media Statement
by Lim Kit Siang
 

(Petaling Jaya, Wednesday): At the 2,000-People Klang DAP "Welcome Lim Guan Eng  Back with Honour" Dinner on Sept. 5, I had queried the MIC President, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu as to why the MIC had not helped the 80 Malaysian Indian students studying medicine in Trinidad and Tobago and are in financial straits as a result of the financial crisis although the government had received a RM3.2 million allocation specifically for this purpose.

I had said that I would be raising this issue in the forthcoming meeting of Parliament unless Samy Vellu and the MIC leadership resolve it speedily and satisfactorily.

This was the result of the complaint of the parent of one of the students stranded in Trinidad and Tobago, who in early June had written to the MIC inquiring about the RM3.2 million financial aid to the 80 Malaysian Indian students in the West Indies, but three months passed by without any response from the MIC.

In May this year, Samy Vellu had publicly announced that the MIC had borrowed RM3.2 million from the Government to help finance 80 Indian students studying medicine in Trinidad and Tobago, who were in financial straits as a student had to pay US$75,000 (RM285,000) in tuitions fee for a five-year course compared to US$68,000 during better times.

I was today informed by the parent-complainant that he has just been contacted to appear together with other parents at the MIC Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur at 5.30 p.m. tomorrow to apply for the financial assistance.

Samy Vellu should explain why there is such a long delay in disbursing the RM3.2 million financial assistance to the 80 Indian medical students in Trinidad and Tobago when the government had approved the allocation last year, and he should also  ensure that there is no hanky-panky in the disbursement of the RM3.2 million by providing the fullest accountability.

(22/9/99)


*Lim Kit Siang - Malaysian Parliamentary Opposition Leader, Democratic Action Party Secretary-General & Member of Parliament for Tanjong