Main pic caption: With a boost from social media, this akka (sister in Tamil) who operates a humble stall in Seri Kembangan has seen her business soaring sky high with people queueing up for five if not more hours for a chance to try her nasi lemak that comes with dishes such as squid sambal, chicken rendang, and quail egg sambal, among others.
THE social and economic problems faced by the Malaysian Indian community are very complex and multi-faceted, hence there is no one-size-fits-all solution to address them.
However, there are several steps that can be taken to improve the situation and help the community thrive. I hope the unity government can address the issue through the Malaysia Madani concept.
One of the key issues faced by the Malaysian Indian community is poverty which has a direct impact on education, employment and business opportunities. To address this issue, the government can implement targeted poverty alleviation programmes that provide financial assistance to those in need.
Here, MITRA or the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit and other government instruments can play their role wisely. This can include providing cash transfers, education and training programsme and access to micro-finance loans to start small businesses.
These programmes can help break the cycle of poverty and provide a path to economic stability without the involvement of any political say or in-person. Transparency and accountability are very much needed in the situation to ensure financial allocation meets its objectives.
Education
Another important factor is education. The Indian community has historically faced challenges in accessing quality education from the very beginning after independence, a weakness that limited their employment opportunities and economic mobility.
To address this, the government can invest in improving the quality of education in Indian-majority schools by providing scholarships and financial assistance for students from low-income families especially students from the B40 categories.
Moreover, vocational training programmes can be introduced to equip individuals with the skills needed to secure better-paying jobs and start their own businesses. By doing this, the local job market can cease its over-dependency on foreign labour force in all economic sectors.
Access to business opportunities is also crucial for the economic empowerment of the Malaysian Indian community. The government can work to create a more business-friendly environment by reducing bureaucratic red tape and streamlining the process of starting and operating a business.
Additionally, the government can provide incentives and resources to encourage investment in Indian-majority areas such as tax breaks, opening business opportunities and access to low-interest loans for them to grow themselves and this format could divert their mindset into the business world instead of involving them in gangsterism and other crimes.
Addressing crime rates in the community is also important for improving social and economic outcomes. This can be only achieved through a combination of law enforcement efforts and community-based initiatives. The government can work to improve police-community relations and provide resources for community policing programs.
Besides that, community-based organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can work to address the root causes of crime such as poverty and lack of opportunities, through education and outreach programmes.
The government needs to widen its help hands not only through enforcement but societal education for better results for these groups.
In my opinion, addressing the social and economic problems faced by the Malaysian Indian community requires a multi-faceted approach that involves addressing poverty, improving education and employment opportunities, providing access to business opportunities and addressing crime rates.
With the right policies and programmes in place, the government can help the Malaysian Indian community overcome these challenges and thrive.
I strongly believe that the Malaysia Madani concept could play a bigger role to overcome Malaysian Indian issues in this country. It is hoped that the new government headed by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can take the necessary steps to address these issues and create a more equitable and prosperous Malaysia for all its citizens. – April 28, 2023
Papparaidu Veraman is the founder & advisor of Malaysian Indian Voice (MIV) and assistant organisational secretary to DAP Selangor.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main pic credit: The Rakyat Post
