Allocations for Indians 'old wine in new bottle', says Hindraf

Hindraf national adviser N Ganesan has dismissed Budget 2016 allocations for the Indian community as ‘old wine in new bottle’.

Ganesan said very little of Hindraf's 18-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) inked with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in April, three weeks before the 2013 national polls, was touched on.

The MoU targeted the Indian poor and had proposed solutions to uplift the lives of the Indian community in the country, especially those trapped in the vicious cycle of poverty.

"The budget did not address the real problems of the Indian poor, especially lifting them up from poverty and ending the vicious cycle of being poor," Ganesan told Malaysiakini when met in George Town today

"There are no significant (allocations) for Indians. It's a populist budget as there are still people affected by the implementation of the six percent Goods and Services Tax," he added.

"Whatever that is supposedly allocated for the Indian community is minuscule,” he said.

Ganesan said the Indian rights movement did not expect much changes in the lives of the Indian community.

He said Hindraf would have like to see living opportunities made available to 40 percent of those living in the bottom rung of society.

"For example, we had hoped to see a Felda-like scheme to help the Indian poor, but there is nothing of the sort.

“We have also hoped to see more educational opportunities for Indians but there are none," he added.

Ganesan's statement was in stark contrast to the remarks issued by Wanita MIC, which cheered Najib for his budget, describing it as ‘inclusive to all communities’.

The Wanita MIC Youth chief Mohana Muniandy said the budget is ‘fair’ to the Indians as they can now benefit from the allocations of RM100 million via Tekun, RM50 million through SME Banks and RM100 million under the programme to develop the socio-economic status of the Indian community. -Mkini