THE Indian community is anticipating much from the forthcoming Budget 2025 as the Madani government now appears to take into consideration the numerous appeals over the last two years to increase affirmative action policies and allocations for the impoverished sections of Indians who could do well with increased funding and financial assistance.
The Indians had hoped much from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as they fully supported the unity government to win the mandate to form the federal government.
The last two years had seen much disappointment but now with PMX firmly in power with a stable and strong administration much can be expected not only by Indians but by all Malaysians about progressive policies being made to address various national problems and shortcomings.
It is a well-known fact that a section of Indians had been sidelined and marginalised due to discrimination over the decades and had been left out and unable to progress with the mainstream society.
The New Economic Policy (NEP) did not benefit the Indian community and those who have progressed to middle class or higher status did it on their own with little help from the government or political parties.
Anwar is well aware of the failure of the NEP to help Indians as well as current needs of the B40 Indians.
He can through larger budgetary allocations begin the process of improving the lot of the community. Generally, about half of the Indian – especially the Tamil – community languishes in poverty partly due to marginalisation by previous governments and some due to their own making.
Some of the problems associated with assistance schemes for Indians need to be investigated in-depth and remedial efforts streamlined thoroughly.
Allocations through Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (Mitra) and other ministries can be better utilised by deserving Indians if there was an effective network of volunteers and paid officials in every parliamentary constituency where there are a substantial number of Indians.
It is this “last mile connectivity” that has prevented many helpful schemes from reaching the deserving applicants and recipients.
The government does not have the right data behind Indian poverty and whatever aid is given is at best a shot in the dark, and this is the reason why poverty eradication schemes for the minority Indian community fail to meet the target.
Political parties are not suited to do this onerous task and will either shirk their responsibility or do it half-heartedly.
In fact, political parties do not relish people with problems coming to their office in search of remedial action. Some problems are hard to deal with by the under-staffed party office employees who will quickly brush off the complainant or applicant with some excuses.
As such the government has to instruct all the MPs where there are large number of poor Indians especially in the west coast states to employ full time community assistants to help the Indians to be informed about assistance schemes, fill up the application forms, get the right documents, the recommendations and various other pre-requisites to apply for various government aids and loans.
This will ensure that there is a proper fail-proof system to help them, which will gradually start to benefit the poorer sections of the community.
There is much hope that Mitra will be free from the various problems it encountered previously and will be transformed into an effective government agency helping deserving Indians to reduce their poverty.
The government needs to have regular proactive oversight as to how the money for Indians is being expended and prevent misuse and abuse early.
Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan can be said to have the most effective ministry to help Indian entrepreneurs to start their businesses.
He has close rapport with the prime minister and can convey the needs and expectations of the community to the Madani government.
He has become a capable leader who had consistently doled out plenty socio-economic assistance to his multi-racial constituents in his Sungai Buloh constituency and one can hope that there will be increased allocations for his ministry, which will be helpful to Indians.
Whatever the budgetary allocations for 2025 for the Indian community, it needs to be large to be meaningful and beneficial as not much can be done with trifling allocations that only increase the disappointment and discontent in the community.
Should this be the case, many Indian leaders would possibly take to berating the prime minister post-Budget 2025 for not doing enough despite the loyal support of Indians who helped secure the mandate for Pakatan Harapan. – Oct 15, 2024
V. Thomas is a Focus Malaysia viewer.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image: Afiq Hambali/Pejabat Perdana Menteri
