MIC Youth chief C. Sivarraajh through his non-governmental organisation, UNITY is calling for an alcohol-free Deepavali this year.
Citing a report titled Alcohol Laws in Malaysia (ALIM), he said Deepavali is a religious and an auspicious festival and it is shameful to celebrate such an occasion with alcohol.
The report was carried out by the Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) together with the Health Ministry and University Malaya (UM).
“We are fighting to keep Deepavali alcohol free because research shows Malaysian Indians spent about RM150 million during the festivities,” he told Astro AWANI.
“Not only is money wasted but alcohol brings a lot of miseries to families like broken families, shattered relationships and dysfunctional family institution,” he said.
He said the pilot project was started in schools where the pupils were advised to tell their fathers not to drink during the occasion.
“We have started with 20 Tamil schools nationwide,” he said.
"I have received positive feedback from non-Indians who appreciate our efforts. Our motive is simple. Why drink alcohol during an auspicious festival? Stay away from it as it does not bring any good."
Sivarraajh admitted that the topic was sensitive especially during Deepavali but said something needs to be done about the issue.
“I have received complaints from supporters and friends but we have to do this. We have to start somewhere,” he said.
Meanwhile, Arun Dorasamy, a former MHS Youth leader who was involved in the ALIM report said in a year Indians spend RM750 million on beers and alcohol, excluding those spent illegally.
He said the number could be higher now since the ALIM report was conducted from 2011 until 2014.
“We have also written to all major advertisement companies to disassociate beers and alcohol with Deepavali,” he said when contacted.
The NGO had also launched a competition to record and upload a 60-second video of a greeting for an alcohol-free Deepavali on their Facebook page, Alcohol Free Deepavali 2015.
Three friends should be tagged with the invitation for them to make a video of their own. The winner will received RM500 on the eve on Deepavali.
Suganthi Suparmaniam
Sun Nov 08 2015
He said Deepavali is a religious and an auspicious festival and it is shameful to celebrate such an occasion with alcohol.
NASA bangunkan sistem rel terapung di permukaan bulan
FLOAT membabitkan pembangunan sistem rel terapung yang tidak memerlukan manusia untuk beroperasi menjelang 2030.
AWANI Ringkas: DBKL sedia garis panduan pokok berusia dan berisiko tinggi
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Israel teruskan operasi ketenteraan di Rafah
Seorang pegawai kanan Israel berkata bahawa pusingan terbaharu rundingan di Kaherah untuk menghentikan permusuhan di Gaza telah berakhir dan Israel akan meneruskan operasinya di Rafah dan bahagian lain di Semenanjung Gaza seperti yang dirancang.
PRK KKB: 39,362 pengundi tunai tanggungjawab esok
Seramai 39,362 pengundi akan menunaikan tanggungjawab untuk memilih wakil rakyat baharu pada Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) esok
Dell sahkan data 49 juta pelanggan dicuri penggodam
DELL menghantar notifikasi kepada pelanggan selepas mengesahkan mereka telah menjadi mangsa godam.
Masyarakat perlu bijak dalam memanfaat teknologi AI
Dalam pada itu, pensyarah Kulliyyah of Engineering (KOE) Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM), Profesor Dr. Amir Akramin Shafie berkata, selain pemerkasaan pembanguan bakat, antara cabaran lain yang perlu diberi tumpuan ialah etika dalam penggunaan kecerdasan buatan (AI).
Katanya, cabaran tersebut perlu diatasi sebaiknya agar masyarakat tidak menyalahgunakan teknologi AI bagi tujuan yang negatif.
Katanya, cabaran tersebut perlu diatasi sebaiknya agar masyarakat tidak menyalahgunakan teknologi AI bagi tujuan yang negatif.
Pembangunan bakat dalam AI perlu diberi tumpuan
Pengarah AIBIG, Fakulti Sains dan Pengkomputeran, UMK, Dr Muhammad Akmal Remli berpandangan kerajaan perlu beri tumpuan kepada aspek pembangunan bakat dalam kecerdasan buatan (AI).
Kerjasama awam-swasta dalam meningkatkan infrastruktur teknologi
Menurut Ketua Penyelidik Pengujian & Kebolehgunaan Perisian Pendidikan, Jabatan Sains Komputer & Teknologi Digital, Fakulti Komputeran & Meta-Teknologi, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Prof. Madya Ts Dr Shamsul Arrieya Ariffin, langkah ini akan membuka peluang untuk melatih lebih ramai individu dalam kemahiran AI yang diperrlukan dalam era digital ini.
Industri gergasi sudah bersedia, tugas KPT sediakan bakat
Ketua Pengarah Pendidikan Tinggi berpendapat industri sudah bersedia dengan integrasi kecerdasan buatan, dan tanggungjawab KPT untuk menyediakan bakal bakat muda.
Pelajar dapat akses maklumat, kajian dua minggu lagi - PM
Akses tersebut diberikan melalui perkomputeran awan dan dikoordinasikan oleh Kementerian Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi (MOSTI).