MIC President Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran presenting a plaque in shape logo 'Briged MIC' to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri, as MIC Deputy President Datuk Seri M. Saravanan (4th right), Ketua Pemuda MIC Raven Kuma (3rd right) and Ketua Wanita MIC Datuk Mohana Muniady (left) and Ketua Briged MIC Andrew David (2nd left) looking on at the launch of the National MIC Briged at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has approved an RM2mil allocation to assist hardcore poor students from the Indian community.
This was among the announcements the Prime Minister made during the launching of the Briged MIC Kebangsaan at Stadium Axiata Arena on Sunday (Sept 18).
"I have also agreed with the proposal made earlier by the MIC president for RM2mil for the hardcore poor Indian students to be included in the coming budget.
"There is no need to wait for the budget, because I am announcing today the approval for the RM2mil," he said to thunderous applause during the launching of Briged MIC Kebangsaan here on Sunday.
Among the other announcements by Ismail Sabri was that the Malaysian Indian Community Transformation (Mitra) Unit fund is to be placed under the Prime Minister's Department.
"I also agree that a Mitra Foundation is set up," he added.
Mitra currently comes under the purview of the Unity Ministry.
He informed the gathering that the setting up of a Special Cabinet committee for the development of the Indian community was at its final stages.
He said that the MIC president Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran and his deputy Datuk Seri M Saravanan, including representatives from the Indian Consultative Council, would be among those in the committee.
Ismail Sabri assured the nation's Indian community that they would not be left out of the nation's development.
He said this was in line with the Keluarga Malaysia aspiration that "no one is left behind".
He added that more announcements to benefit the Indian community would be made under the coming Budget, which is to be tabled in Parliament on Oct 7.
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri expressed confidence that the MIC Brigade would be an "additional tonic" to ensure a bigger win for Barisan in the coming general election.
Earlier, in his speech, Vigneswaran urged the government to provide more allocation for social-economic development programmes for the Indian community.
Among the suggestions by Vigneswaran was that RM300mil be allocated to set up the Yayasan Mitra.
He also proposed that RM2mil is allocated annually for hardcore poor Indian students, particularly to house them in special dormitories.
Some 15,000 youths under the MIC brigade nationwide attended the event, which was launched by Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The MIC brigade was set up in 2003 by Vigneswaran, who was the MIC youth chief, to uplift youths from the community through education, sports and economic programmes.
A special tribute was held for former MIC Tun S. Samy Vellu, 86, who passed away on Thursday (Sept 15) during the event, drawing applause from the crowd.
Also present at the event were MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan and Barisan deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. - Star
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