Palanivel to Najib: Enough excuses on matriculation

The government risks being perceived as breaking its promises to the Indian community if they do not meet the numbers promised to Indians for matriculation seats on a national level.

MIC president G Palanivel (left) today said the government can't hide behind excuses such as that offer letters have been issued to deserving students but not all are taking up the offer to enrol in matriculation seats.

"Make a second or third offer until the 1,500 promised quota is fulfilled. Otherwise, the people will see us as 'tidak menepati janji' (promise not fulfilled)," he said while addressing Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak during the MIC annual general assembly in Malacca today.

'Not enough'

Palanivel also said that the RM200 million allocated to Indians by Najib under Budget 2014 is "not enough" to uplift the status of Indians in the society. 

"So I hereby ask the PM to allocate RM3 billion for Indians to obtain easy loans," Palanivel said.

He also claimed that Indian voters have returned to the BN fold, but the government's efforts and programmes for the community are still inadequate to solve the existing problems. 

"So a new approach is needed to solve the problems of Indians," Palanivel asserted.

The MIC president also said that BN as a coalition will only be strengthened when all component party are seen as "equals" in the coalition.