Excerpts Of Speech

Excerpts of Speech by YB A.Tanasekharan at the Penang State Assembly on 2nd December 2009. Single Mother. The issue of single mother is becoming serious in Penang and it needs the government's intervention to alleviate the problem's faced by poor single mothers.The government could provide monthly financial aid through the welfare department,advise through counselling or to get suitable jobs for them. An effective way to handle these problems is to set up a one stop centre where the single mothers could get all the help they need.At present single mothers may able to get some financial help from their elected representatives.However these could be a one-off payment only.Thereafter their problems will still persist.In the event a one stop centre is set their problems will still persist.In the event a one stop centre is set up their problems could be better attended to with qualified people to advise them.This form of government intervention is needed to avoid it from becoming a social problem. Illegal Conversation. S.Banggama a Hindu Lady who was married for 8 years at a temple is not able to register her marriage because she is listed as a Muslim and and her husband as a Hindu.Banggama and her 3 siblings were admitted to the Taman Bakti children orphanage when Banggama was 5 years old by the Welfare Department.Thereafter she was converted to Islam without her knowledge and consent by Perkim and Majlis Agama Islam Penang.Her name was then changed to Siti Hasnah Vangarama Abdullah. Welfare homes such as Taman Bakti children's orphanage should guarantee the rights and freedom of the children.The unfortunate thing is that they are running welfare homes lie prisons.No one is allowed to visit the centres without a written permission from the authorities.The Tamil children are not allowed to speak to each other in their mother tongue.They are also foced to eat beef. Banggama's illegal conversion to Islam is a clear example of total abuse of powers and disrespect of the country's constitution.They have denied Banggama the freedom of choice of religion.What will happen to her children? She has lost her family life and her fundamental rights as a human being.