RMK 11 & SPECIFC REFENCES ON THE INDIAN COMMUNITY

A majority of the Indian community seem very disappointed that there are no references to the Indian community. A similar analysis can be noted among the people of Sabah and Sarawak including the Orang Asli community.

 In the 11th Malaysia Plan there are two specific references to the Indian community:-

The first, on page 3-6 there is reference to what was done between 2011 and 2015 namely in addressing the concerns of poor Indian community through entrepreneurship and skills training. They have indicated that 167,500 individuals have benefited:-

10,000 young people in skills training

30,000 adults participated in entrepreneurship training programs

127,500 primary & secondary school students in educational enhancement programs 

It will necessary to have more details on these programs and the target beneficiaries including some impact assessment on effectiveness of these and what were the outcomes.

It is important for us to note the nature of the programs were these one off etc But the numbers 127,500 is impressive.

The allocations in the 10^th Malaysia Plan did focus on skills training and entrepreneurship but what about access to micro credit and business loans especially through TEKUN and AIM

The second is on page 3-18 context of Reducing School Dropouts. The specific ref is “Special attention will also be given to address the needs of children from identified segments of disadvantaged groups including … Indians from dislocated estates and urban areas…”

As this a future target this is something we can unpack and ensure the issues pertaining to drop out as well as under achieving students in both the primary and secondary schools are addressed.  We need a clear figures from Ministry of Education on this including youth who have been sacked or dismissed from the school due to discipline problems absenteeism.

PM speech in Parliament made one reference to Malaysian Indians. 

The PM said “Bagi masyarakat India pula, satu Blueprint yang menggariskan hala tuju pembangunan sosioeknonomi mereka akan disediakan”

This announced has caused some confusion on why only now is a blueprint being developed and who is responsible. Since 2008 the Federal Government had set up the Cabinet Committee on Indian Concerns, special units as well as allocated funds for socio-economic development

Dato Seri Utama Samy Vellu in his welcome speech at this 2nd National Symposium indicated that the Prime Minister’s Office has clarified this matter.

First, that it will be the Cabinet Committee that will be responsible for the formulation of the blueprint and more announcements will be made.

Second, we were also told that the blueprint effort is to strengthen the work already being done so as to ensure that the delivery and implementation are more effective and the outreach is enlarged.

Third, that all will have opportunities to contribute towards the formulation of the blueprint. We were also assured that the findings of the YPS National Symposium will be reviewed in the blueprint formulation process. This will be an open and engaging process.

It is important to note that the drafting of a blueprint does not mean that nothing was done in the Tenth Malaysia Plan as during this period PM Najib had already accepted eight critical issues of the Indian community as National Concerns. The PM also has been chairing the Cabinet Committee on Indian Concerns since 2008 and has establishment four specific delivery agencies with full time staff employed by the Federal government.

Let us therefore utilise this process of the Blueprint to really provide input and formulate an action strategy very soon so that the remaining years can be devoted to effective implementation building on what was done in the 10^th Malaysia Plan period.