Extra Deepavali holiday for Malaysian Indian school kids

October 12th, 2009 GEORGE TOWN - As Malay-Indians get ready to celebrate Deepavali in their traditional north and south Indian ways, a couple in George Town has merged both traditions to make the most of the festival of lights. Administrative assistant Ramesh Sharma, 48, of North Indian origin, is married to Sumathi Sharma, 48, a Tamil.

October 9th, 2009 SELANGOR - Authorities in the Malaysian state of Selangor have put off the demolition of the 130-year-old Sri Maha Mariamman temple, which is located in Jenjarom. A decision to put off the demolition was reached after an agreement between the temple committee, the developer and the Kuala Langat police, reports The Star.

October 9th, 2009 GEORGE TOWN - Malaysia's "Little India" area in George Town has come alive with shoppers flocking to buy clothes, prayer paraphernalia, provisions, traditional Indian delicacies and decorative pieces in preparation for Deepavali, the festival of lights. The shops are decked with festive decorations and, in the background, popular Tamil songs from the latest movies are blasting away on speakers placed outside the shops to the sweet smell of incense wafting in the air.

October 8th, 2009 PUTRAJAYA - Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has reportedly cleared a proposal that instructs state education directors to approve requests from schools for an extra day off on October 20 to celebrate Deepavali. "The decision was made to enable parents to make plans for their families to travel earlier and avoid traffic jams," The Star quoted him, as saying after he had inspected students sitting for the first day of the Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) at SMK Presint 8 (1) yesterday.

October 7th, 2009 MALACCA - Deepavali came early for 500 underprivileged families here who received cash aid totalling RM100,000 from the Malacca Welfare Department. According to The Star, Malacca Chief Minister Mohammad Ali Rustam, who presented the money to the families, reminded them to cherish the stability in the country and to not sow discord among the races.

September 29th, 2009 GEORGE TOWN - With only three weeks remaining, 'Deepavali' preparations are going on in full swing in Malaysia's 'Little India'. Colourful banners proclaiming "Deepavali sales" are strung across the streets in the Penang's Indian enclave, which encompasses Market Street, Penang Street, Queen Street and King Street, The New Strait Times reports.uring this festive season, the whole area takes on a carnival atmosphere as temporary stalls selling colourful Indian sweets, delicacies, clothing and decorative items are set up by the roadside.

September 4th, 2009 KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian Human Rights Commissioner N. Siva Subramaniam has said that almost 5,000 children from the Malay Indian community have not attended school.

September 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Malaysian High Commissioner to India has advised his fellow countrymen to take extra precaution as the spate of fatal Indian road accidents involving them is worrying. High Commissioner Tan Seng Sung said recent accidents, where Malaysians lost their lives showed that travellers need to be more careful when planning their travel to India.

September 1st, 2009 KUALA LUMPUR - Muruku, the savoury Indian snack, is on its way to fast become one of the most popular bites during the festival of Eid ul-Fitr, also known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri, in Malaysia. Primary school headmaster D.

August 23rd, 2009 KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) president S. Samy Vellu has named a 27-member "official team" for the 23 seats in the central working committee (CWC) in the party polls that are to be held on September 12.

July 10th, 2009 KAHANG - The Malaysian Government should give more opportunities to the Indian community in the country's development projects, the Tamil Nesan quoted state assemblyman R. Vidyanathan, as saying.

May 19th, 2009 KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian Indian Congress information chief M. Saravanan has asked the Minnal FM to play a more effective role in uniting the country's Indian community.

April 9th, 2009 KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian Indian Congress is taking action to ensure a permanent place for the Gelang Patah Tamil school in Nusajaya, the newly developed area in Johor. The school was originally called Hukla Estate Tamil School, but due to the rapid development in the area, it was moved to its temporary location and renamed, Tamil Nesan quoted Johor MIC chief K.S.

April 3rd, 2009 KUALA LUMPUR - Two ethnic Indian Malaysian women are in a jail in Pakistan's Karachi city on charges of drug smuggling but say they were duped by an international drug syndicate. In all, five Malaysian women were arrested on drug peddling charges and the two ethnic Indian women are among them.

January 22nd, 2009 KUALA LUMPUR - Former Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) vice president and philanthropist S.O.K. Ubaidulla Kadir Basha died Thursday after prolonged illness, a media report said Friday.