I refer to the Malaysiakini report Shoplot Tamil school gets land for own building .

Firstly I would like to thank Malaysiakini for highlighting the issue of this shoplot Tamil school two years ago.

The picture of the Salak Tamil school in Port Dickson was taken by me and a group of friends who went to do social work in the Lukut area in August 2007 and we were shocked to see such a school.

The photo eventually became famous thanks to the Malaysiakini report on the school and even featured in the Hindraf roadshows!

What happened after that was not entirely silence because the local MIC members started questioning this group of volunteers and even lamented that now the story had been highlighted ( Malaysiakini did an interview with the headmaster).

They claimed then that the MIC could help the school anymore and that the future of this school had been destroyed because it ‘had become a national issue’.

It was surprising that nobody took matter into their hands but instead intimidated us, querying why the photo was taken and making the issue into a controversy.

It was really heartbreaking to know that even the state MIC leaders were keeping away from this school even after its condition was highlighted (though they claimed many things were already approved and waiting to happen).

But as we know the Hindraf rally happened and Indian issues were highlighted. This was followed by the 12th general elections which knocked out the MIC in Negri Sembilan except for the representative for Jeram Padang.

Then everyone made the general elections a scapegoat saying since the MIC is now not strong anymore in Ngeri Sembilan and the Indian ‘Yang Berhormat-s’ are not at the helm, nothing much can be done for this school and for many other issues.

It was therefore surprising to read in the above report that this same school is getting three acres of land for a new building!

It is indeed amazing how much of help we can get during a by-election. So for those who say by elections are a waste of money, think again. By-elections definitely help the poor people. We saw it in all the previous by-elections.

Promises have been made to the People of Port Dickson and now that the by-election is over, changes will happen (irrespective of who won, promises have been made a la the bridge in Manek Urai).

This issue leads to two conclusions - taking photos and being a citizen journalist does make things happen as I saw with my own eyes!

Secondly, the deaths of the ‘wakil rakyat’ are actually a blessing in disguise for the rakyat as BN will start doing many thing for the constituency. They will help the poor who previously begged for help but never seemed to get any.

So does this mean that more ‘Yang Berhormat-s’ must die before Malaysians get all their help from the government?