‘GOVT CARES FOR INDIANS’
Community urged to support provider of programmes that improve their lives
THE Indian community must continue supporting the government as it continuously carries out programmes and initiatives to improve their lives, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“The concern showed by the government towards the Indian community, and Malaysians in general, is not merely rhetoric but is reflected in various programmes for the people.
“The government is also committed to ensuring that seven per cent of top leaders in its administration are made up of members of the Indian community.
“(So much so) that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has been called the ‘father of Indian community development’,” he said at the national-level Deepavali celebration here yesterday.
He said the government had allocated a huge sum for the community as reflected in various initiatives, including the Malaysian Indian Blueprint (MIB).
“To improve the economy of the Indian community, two billion units of shares have been offered by Permodalan Nasional Bhd, which is among the agenda outlined in MIB,” he said.
Other allocations were also channelled through this year’s budget, including RM260 million in fields like entrepreneurship and education; a RM50 million fund to improve the income capacity of Indians; financial assistance for entrepreneurs through Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usaha Niaga (Tekun Nasional) and Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia; RM50 million for Tamil schools; and RM10 million for Tamil preschool programmes.
He said the Federal Government was committed to fostering unity to maintain peace and harmony.
“This philosophy is also mentioned in the teachings of Hinduism that promote Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which means the world is one family.”
Present were Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, who is also MIC president, Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, and Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.