Don’t sabotage efforts to end poverty, says PM

 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim receiving a rousing welcome at a get-together with members of the Penang Indian community today. (Facebook pic)

SEBERANG JAYA: There is no reason for anyone, including those from the Indian community, to attempt to sabotage the unity government’s efforts to eradicate absolute poverty this year, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

During an engagement programme with the Penang Indian community, the prime minister said Indian households represent the poorest among the households categorised as absolute poor.

Anwar said district officers have been instructed to identify absolute poor households and help them. He gave an assurance that district officers who fail in their duties would be held accountable.

He said his unity government had to commit to executing programmes that would ensure that the problem of absolute poverty would be eradicated once and for all, irrespective of race.

“I want your understanding and your support (for this programme),” he told hundreds of programme attendees at SP Arena here.

“There is no reason for any Indian to cast doubt and try to sabotage this programme that supports this position (of the unity government). They are traitors to this community if they attempt (to take) this position,” he said.

More TVET opportunities, matriculation places

Anwar said the government was working to provide more places for Indian youth in technical and vocational education and training, as well as a greater number of places for non-Bumiputera students in matriculation colleges.

He said deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had informed him that the government is working on “a much bigger enrolment rate” for Indian youths into technical and vocational training institutes.

“These are works in progress,” he said. He also said Zahid had been told to present him a report on the work, following appeals from the Indian community on educational opportunities in the TVET sector.

On matriculation intake, Anwar said the education minister Fadhlina Sidak would form a special task force to look into a highter intake of non-Bumiputeras into matriculation colleges.

She had been instructed to provide the report in two to three weeks, he said.

Fadhlina had also been asked to identify dilapidated Tamil schools, which would receive funds from the RM1.4 billion allocated to repair dilapidated schools and clinics. - FMT