Govt has interest of Indian community at heart

The continuous budgetary allocations to the country's Indian community showed the government had the interest of members of the community at heart, said MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel.

Expressing satisfaction with this development, he said it indicated the government's continuous support for Indians in areas such as education, skills training and business empowerment.

"Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has given recognition to the community," Palanivel told Bernama on Saturday.

Under the 2014 Budget, the government would allocate RM100 million to enhance education performance and skills training as it continued to focus on the development of Malaysian Indians.

The sum included RM28 million for early education programmes involving 176 Tamil pre-schools and i-Sinar programme. Another RM50 million was allocated for the Indian Entrepreneurs Development Scheme via the Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (Tekun).

Echoing similar sentimets, his deputy, Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam welcomed the special allocation given to pre-school education which would help increase the number of students enrolling at national-type Tamil schools.

Meanwhile, People's Progressive Party president Datuk M. Kayveas hoped the funds would be handled properly and reached the targeted groups.

Makkal Sakti president Datuk R. S. Thanenthiran said Najib had put his 'Midas touch' in efforts to uplift middle-class Indian community.

Meanwhile, MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai felt that the RM50 million allocation to be channelled to national-type Chinese schools was insufficient as the number of such schools had risen.

MCA Youth chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong said the government should also give attention to Chinese communities in rural areas.