PM: Special Cabinet committee for Indian community development to be set up

 

KUALA LUMPUR: A Special Cabinet committee for the development of the Indian community will be set up, while an action plan for the community will also be launched soon, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pic).

Assuring that no race will be left behind in his Malaysian Family, he said that the action plan for the Indian community covers various short- and long-term targets aiming to improve the standard of living for the community.

"Through the National Unity Ministry, an action plan for the Indian community has been formed called the Indian Community Action Plan (PTMI) and it is to be launched in the near future, covering various short and long-term targets.

"The government will ensure that the standard of living of the Indian community continues to be improved, guided by the PTMI and improvements will also be made, from time to time in line with the 12th Malaysia Plan and the Budget 2022.

"A Special Cabinet committee for the development of the Indian community will also be set up," he said in his speech at the MIC general assembly at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec) here on Sunday (Dec 12).

In 2022, the Indian community is set to receive over RM600mil from the Malaysian Family Assistance, said Ismail Sabri, adding that the government plans and implements various programmes to ensure that those in need of aid are given the appropriate assistance.

Starting next year, the Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST University), which was built by the MIC, will also receive a yearly allocation of RM25mil, he said.

"The government has always cared about the welfare of the Indians in the country.

"The Indian community will benefit from more than RM600mil given by the Malaysian Family Assistance in 2022.

"Specifically for the Indian community for 2022, RM100mil is also allocated to the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra).

"This is for among other things, to implement a financial aid programme for education, entrepreneurial capacity building programs, charitable assistance, as well as to aid the B40 Indian community," he said.

Ismail Sabri also announced that the proposal by the MIC to park Mitra under the Prime Minister's Department instead of its current position under the National Unity Department, will also be discussed.

In addition, the Education Ministry will also allocate RM35mil for the maintenance of Tamil national-type primary schools while the Human Resource Development Corporation has also set aside up to RM25mil for skills development of B40 Indian youths, he said.

Another RM25mil has also been provided through the National Entrepreneur Group Economic Fund (Tekun) for a financing scheme for Indian micro entrepreneurs, said Ismail Sabri. - Star