IN A reply posed to a question in the Dewan Rakyat on eradication of poverty among Malaysian Indians, the National Unity Ministry (KPN) replied by saying that various initiatives would be explored through the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (MITRA) to assist the Indian community.
Since MITRA has been placed under the KPN, it only fitting for it to address questions of poverty eradication among Indians in the country.
However, whether MITRA with minuscule funds of RM100 mil can address and overcome the historical and contemporary nature of socio-economic problems of the Indian community remains to be seen.
From the start during the Barisan Nasional (BN) days MITRA (then SEDIC) was plagued with problems of low funding, misappropriation of funds, corruption and others.
Under the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led government, MITRA might have a record of spending the allocated funds. However, whether the funds meant for the Indian poor was properly spent remains an important question.
Even if the annual budget of RM100 mil is allocated to the needy, the fact remains that MITRA is still very much mired in the bureaucracy. Change of leaders, moving it frequently under different ministries and others continue to plague the effectiveness of MITRA.
MITRA is supposed to re-skill and up-skill the poor and marginalised Indian community. It is meant to push Indians above the poverty lines by ensuring that they acquire the necessary skills and expertise to face the fast-changing modern world.
Indian plight not prioritised
As far as the Indian community is concerned, this is a community that has contributed so much to the development of the country, Therefore, a RM100 mil budget can be considered as peanuts or a drop in the vast ocean.
When billions are poured into the development of the Bumiputra community, why should Indians be victimised? Aren’t Indians citizens of the country?
Haven’t their ancestors sacrificed enough towards the development of the nation? Why are they treated as second- or third-class citizens? Why does the community has to continuously beg for financial and economic assistance?
Essentially, the problem faced by Indians are two-fold. Firstly, the government in power – whether Madani or otherwise – is least bothered about Indians for their chief concern is the Bumiputera mainly for political expediency and survival.
Secondly, the community is faced with the perpetual problem of ending up with leaders who are more concerned with their own political survival on the basis of shameful appeasement politics.
How can the Indian community expect to get a bigger share of funds and other forms of government assistance when the prioritisation of Bumiputera interests has taken a pronounced role?
The sycophancy of Indian leaders in the government does not help the situation. They dared not demand a bigger financial share for the community. They are too timid for fear of losing their present positions.
This says much about the present leaders who could not even demand for the appointment of an Indian Tamil minister. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim despite his “love for Malays, Chinese, Indians and others” is just another Malay nationalist leader.
Some viable suggestions
He has no regard for the non-Malays in the country let alone assisting them on deserving matters. Indians are “kingmakers” once in every five years before general elections. After this, their status as “kingmakers” vanishes in thin air.
Initiatives such as MITRA and others are basically knee-jerk attempts to show that the government is doing something for Indians. For this, the community must be eternally grateful to the government in power.
The annual budget of RM100 mil for MITRA is a disgraceful attempt to appease the Indian community. The funds provided might not have decisive impact on the Indian poor. The sub-standard allocation will merely give rise to conflict among Indians for the scare funds.
Rather than the government or KPN merely focusing on the allocations to MITRA, I suggest the following five measures to the unity government to lift the hardship within the Malaysian Indian community.
- Open up more places in public universities and the matriculation programme for Indian students;
- Provide financial grants and scholarships to deserving Indian students;
- Provide allocation of permits and licenses for Indians to engage in business and entrepreneurial activities;
- Lease state lands for Indians to carry out agricultural activities; and
- Appoint more Indians in the country’s civil service.
It should not be forgotten that Indians are full citizens of the country although their identity might be expressed in cultural and ethnic terms due to political peculiarities.
The above are few suggestions that I recommend that the government should start thinking of to effectively assist the Indian community. They are part of my larger initiative to lay out a comprehensive plan for the development of the much-neglected Indian community. – March 8, 2024
Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the Urimai (United Rights of Malaysian Party) Interim Council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main pic credit: The Star
