Indian Studies Dept: Cabinet agreed to retain name

The cabinet has agreed to maintain the name of the Indian Studies Department (ISD) in University Malaya, revealed MIC president S Samy Vellu.

Samy Vellu said he was informed of this today by Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam, who raised the matter during the weekly cabinet meeting.

"It has been agreed by the cabinet. So, there must not be any change in the name," he added.

In view of this, the MIC president urged Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor Ghauth Jasmon to reconsider his decision to rename the department to Indian and South Asian Studies Department.

Samy Vellu added that any move to change or add to its name will cause serious repercussions.

"He has to listen to the views of the Indian community. Tamil is our life," he said when asked to respond to Ghauth's statement yesterday on the move to rename the ISD.

Ghauth had told Malaysiakini that although the name of the department would be changed, its programmes would be maintained.

To this, Samy Vellu said: "No, we will not accept any changes to the Indian Studies Department because it was the Indians who contributed to the department’s existence and it is also our pride."

Don't make us seek other avenues

The MIC chief said the ISD was created from money collected from Indian estate workers in the early 1950s under the 'Save Tamil Fund'.

He said if the reason for the change in name was due to the infighting among the ISD academia, the university should deal with them and not resort to changing its name.

"The department has got many historical values to the Indian community. Changing its name or renaming it would mean showing disrespect to the Indian community," he added.

Samy Vellu said if the university was adamant in maintaining the change in name, MIC would seek the government to intervene although universities were given autonomy to administer its business.

"Let us not come to a stage where the Indian community would have to seek other avenues to settle this problem. We leave it to the wisdom of the vice-chancellor and I am sure he will make the right decision," he added.

Ghauth had said that should there be a possible negative backlash from the public over the formation of the new department, he was ready to face his critics.

VC shouldn't play politics

MIC Youth wing advisor S Vell Paari also expressed his anger with the decision by the UM to ‘demote' the department.

"The VC must realise that this department not only has a long history but also a long cultural link with the Indian community," he said.

He also warned that the decision will only further alienate the Indian community from Barisan Nasional.

"The last time someone said he will face whatever consequences may come for his unpopular action saw him losing the state of Selangor. People will no longer just remain quiet," he added.

Penang deputy chief minister 2 P Ramasamy meanwhile called VC Ghauth to resign for playing politics in the matter.

"If the university is not happy with some of the department's staff, disciplinary action should be taken against them. Don't close down the department for that," he said.

He added that the department has produced "some good students over the years".

"Some years ago the Malay Studies Department at the UKM faced some problems. They didn't even have any students in the department but the university rejected all calls for that department to be closed.

"So why the different standard for the Indian Studies Department?" he asked.