MIC calls for RM3 billion plan for Indians

Putrajaya has been urged to formulate an Indian Community Redevelopment plan to improve the socio-economic status of the community in the country, said MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel (pic).

He proposed the government allocate RM3 billion for training, education and business loans for the Indian community.

He said what was being provided by the government currently was insufficient to enable the Indian community to be freed from the shackles of poverty as it only had a 1.3% share of the country's equity despite making up 8% of the population.

"It is not adequate to solve the major problems faced by the Indian community.

"What is needed is a redevelopment plan for the Indian community, a large injection of infrastructural projects, grants and funds which will propel the Indian community into national mainstream development," he said in his policy speech at the 67th MIC annual general meeting in Melaka, today.

The AGM is to be officially opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak after the policy speech.

Palanivel said he was confident the new dimension in investment will spawn multiplier effects which could help overcome problems on education, religion and crime that had been prevalent among the local Indian community for generations.

According to him, to ensure its success, MIC had outlined several projects, among them investments in properties which had the potential for good returns, technology companies and smart agricultural projects based on the Steinbeck model in California, which not only offered alternative employment opportunities to plantation workers but also ownership of the estate they are working in.

He said MIC was now on the right track to ensure all programmes planned could be implemented well and gave good returns.

"We are not talking about assistance for entrepreneurs who want to open barber shops or stalls. On the other hand, I want to see Indian entrepreneurs to be involved in businesses based on the latest technology such as nanotechnology, green technology or research on quantum computer technology," he said.

He said even though MIC appreciated the government's contribution and special allocations for the Indian community, for example the RM200 million in the 2014 Budget, but it was only 0.08% of the RM264 billion budget.