PETALING JAYA: The various initiatives aimed at empowering the Indian community prove that they have never been sidelined by the government, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Revisiting the issue today, he once again dismissed claims that Putrajaya had not help the Indian community, saying that those pushing such narratives were trying to influence Indians to hate the government.
Last month, Anwar rejected claims of “inaction” by him and his administration when it came to helping the Indian community, stating that those living in Kuala Lumpur and Negeri Sembilan had received the most assistance in proportion to their population.
Speaking during the “Soal Jawab Perdana Menteri” programme broadcasted by all local television stations tonight, he said the Indian community should not be “angry or jealous” about programmes meant to uplift Bumiputeras.
“Our approach is to assist the Bumiputeras, but this does not mean it’s a zero-sum game,” he said.
“Helping the Malays doesn’t mean we sideline other groups. That’s why I always stress to the Indian community not to be angry or jealous about Bumiputera programmes.
“Don’t say that they (Indians) have received nothing. If compared to previous years, this is the most we have given to the Bumiputeras (but) this is also the most we have given to the Indian community and also to Sabah and Sarawak in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).”
He added that the Chinese community, through small and medium enterprises, had received “tens of billions of ringgit”.
Anwar said that among the assistance given to the Indian community was an allocation of RM100 million for the implementation of socio-economic development programmes through the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) and RM30 million channelled through the National Entrepreneur Group Economic Fund (Tekun) in the 2024 Budget.
Other initiatives Anwar mentioned included a special RM50 million fund through Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) to empower Indian women entrepreneurs, adding that the government-linked company, Petronas, had also provided scholarships for Indian students and employed nearly 1,000 Indian staff.
In a statement yesterday, Urimai chairman P Ramasamy said he hoped to see the government ensure that the Indians were treated as “full-fledged” citizens.
Ramasamy’s party has embarked on a campaign to urge voters in Kuala Kubu Baharu, especially the Indians, to reject PH at the May 11 polls to serve as a lesson to the federal government, which he claimed had not fulfilled its promises so far.
Pointing to the allocations for Bumiputera economic development, the former Penang deputy chief minister said Indians were being discriminated against in public sector employment and enrolment in matriculation programmes and public universities.
“If Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim cannot assist the Indian community – not as Indians, but as full-fledged citizens of this country – then he should say so,” Ramasamy had said. - FMT
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