MIC thumbs up, NGO thumbs down

MIC leaders are full of praise for the Budget 2012, but a NGO leader says the Indian community has gotten 'peanuts'.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Budget 2012 evoked mixed reactions from MIC leaders and a NGO leader, with one lauding it and the other panning it.

Describing it as a “people’s budget”, MIC vice-president SK Devamany said it proved that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak was concerned about the Indian community.

Under the Budget, the government allocated RM100 million for Tamil schools and another RM 100 million for Indian entrepreneurs under the Amanah Ikthiar Scheme.

“The allocation for Tamil schools clearly indicates that the premier is passionate about education and student development,” Devamany told FMT.

The deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Deparment added that the macro credit would also empower the Indian community and help usher it into the economic mainstream.

Apart from this, he said the allocation for Karisma, which provided assistance to the poor, senior citizens, children and disabled people as well as the abolishment of school fees would also benefit the community.

“The budget is truly based on the 1Malaysia concept where all regardless of race are taken into account,” he said.

MIC secretary general S Murugesan also praised the Budget, unveiled by Najib in the Dewan Rakyat this evening.

“With the budget, the nation will continue to increase in terms of economic and social developments,” he told FMT.

He added that it was a proper budget, which came about in a timely manner due to the increase in living cost.

‘We are given peanuts’

However, Malaysian Indian Progressive Association (MIPAS) president A Rajaretnam was disappointed, claiming that Najib had given “peanuts” to the community.

“We representing over 200 Indian-based NGOs requested Najib to provide at least RM2 billion to cater for the needs of the Indian community,” he said, adding that only 10% of this was allocated.

“What can the community do with RM200 million?” he asked.

Furthermore, he pointed out that MIC president G Palanivel himself had requested Najib to allocate RM5billion.

“It seems like Najib has once again played out the community,” he said.