Govt channeled RM500 mil allocation to Indian community over five years - Razali

An allocation of almost RM500 million has been channelled to help raise the living standard of the Indian community in the country, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Razali Ibrahim.

He said the allocation included in the economic and educational fields since five years ago.

He said the move was to ensure the Indian community succeeded in the economic field, including equity shares of three per cent through various funds provided by the government.

As an example, Razali said, the Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (Tekun) alone had allocated a total of RM34.5 million to assist Indian entrepreneurs between 2008 and 2011.

"In 2012, Tekun channelled an allocation of RM30 million, with another RM50 million each in 2013 and this year, respectively, while there were 8,107 applications received from Indian entrepreneurs from August 2012 to October last year, with an allocation of RM119.4 million already given out," he told a media conference after meeting with Umno Parit Jawa Zone branch chiefs at Taman Sri Bukit Mor here, Monday.

He was commenting on a statement by P. Waythamoorthy - who quit Monday as deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department - who alleged he resigned from the post because the government did not assist in efforts to uplift the living standard of the poor in the Indian community, since he was appointed eight months ago.

Waythamoorthy, who is also former Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) chairman, has confirmed sending his resignation letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Razali, who is also Umno Supreme Council member, said Tekun also assisted 65 Indian-owned companies to participate in the Small Retailer Transformation Programme with a total of RM4.4 million.

Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) also channelled a loan totalling RM47.5 million to 774 India entrepreneurs while Tekun, through Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund, gave a loan of RM153.9 million to 12,319 Indian entrepreneurs, he said.

Twenty-two Indian-owned companies or workshops also benefitted from funds totalling RM1.3 million from the domestic trade, cooperative and consumerism ministry, via the Pemodenan Bengkel Automotif (Atom) programme.

In ensuring Indian children were not left out, Razali said, the government channelled an allocation of RM100 million to the Tamil national-type schools, similar to that operated by the Chinese national-type schools.