Telegu kindies in the offing

MIC mulls setting up centres to spruce up language
Monday, February 06, 2012 - 16:12
by Ram Anand
KUALA LUMPUR: Telugu-based kindergartens will be set up in Malaysia if the government approves a grant for the establishment of such centres.

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MIC deputy president Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam (pic) said a grant amounting to RM350,000 to conduct Telugu kindergartens and language classes was being mulled over by MIC.

He said, after attending a Telugu women’s convention, that he would discuss the possibility of the grant with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“I want the Telugus to know the MIC is not only a party for the Tamils but for the whole Indian community, which includes the Telugus, Malayalees and Punjabis,” he said.

The grant was requested by the Telugu Association of Malaysia (TAM) women’s wing to start Telugu-based pre-schools nationwide and also to help spruce up Telugu language classes that are being taught in 35 Tamil vernacular schools in the country.

The pre-schools, the association said, would be able to nurture Telugu speaking and writing skills among Telugu children while they were young. A large majority of Telugus in the country have little or no literary knowledge of the language, which originated from Andhra Pradesh in India.

The association’s president, Dr Achaiah Kumar Rao, had also demanded official representation for the Telugu community within MIC ranks.

“A representative for our community should be among the MIC leaders. We are done waiting on the sidelines for our demands to be fulfilled,” said Achaiah. TAM has been increasingly vocal in being heard.

In October 2010, the association organised a day-long convention for Telugus in Malaysia at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) - an event attended by Najib and saw more than 15,000 people taking part.

Similarly, a youth convention held last year at the PWTC was attended by Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek and attended by more than 3,000 people.

The association, which claims to represent over 300,000 Telugus in Malaysia, has publicly pledged its support for the Barisan Nasional (BN) numerous times.