THE Association for Welfare Community and Dialogue (ACID) agrees with the letter by V. Thomas that the Indian community is anticipating much from the forthcoming Budget 2025, especially the impoverished sections of Indians who could do well with increased funding and financial assistance.
The writer has rightly said of the importance of paid officers to undertake the responsibility of reaching out to the Indians so whatever allocations reach the targeted group.
Certain parliamentary constituencies around the country are in dire need of such paid professional officers since the current arrangement is geared to general duties and unable to address specific needs.
Furthermore, some of these service centres have become popular places for certain individuals who are preoccupied on social media and pick and choose culture of who to meet while the important responsibility to meet their constituents to address real concerns of the community have become an uphill battle.
Secondly, the issue of discrimination experienced by the Indian community faces has to be addressed in Parliament.
The Merdeka Centre’s 2024 National Youth Survey provided critical insights into the ongoing racial dynamics in Malaysia, particularly the discrimination faced by Indians.
Indians face high levels of discrimination. According to the survey, the Indian community continues to feel marginalised within Malaysian society, with 62% of Indians reporting that they experience unfair treatment and discrimination and only 28% feeling they are fairly treated.
It contrasts sharply with the 57% of Chinese who feel their community receives unfair treatment and 40% who feel they are fairly treated.
It is vital for the Madani government to comprehensively address the issue of discrimination since in the Malaysian context, political and social economic priorities are usually geared towards the ethnic majority which is considered as an important voting block and a crucial platform for power and legitimacy.
There is a need to address the sources of discrimination at the institutional, employment and business sector.
It is hoped that the Madani government will address the real concerns of the Indian community that has an institutional element of ethnic discrimination in the public and private sector and come up with a proper mechanism for aid to reach the targeted group. – Oct 16, 2024
Ronald Benjamin is a human resources practitioner based in Ipoh. He is currently secretary of the Association for Community and Dialogue.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
