YPS Hopes Findings Will Be Incorporated In Blueprint For Indian Community

KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 (Bernama) -- Social Rehabilitation Foundation (YPS) 

chairman Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu hopes the findings of its two national 

symposiums will be incorporated in the blueprint for the socio-economic 

development of the Indian community.

In welcoming the government's move to come up with the blueprint, he said officers from the Prime Minister's Office had participated in both YPS's symposiums and hoped for their serious commitment and cooperation.

"We must remember that the Malaysian Indian concerns are no longer just community concerns, these are national concerns as the main thrust of our Prime Minsiter's agenda is inclusive development," he said at the YPS's 2nd National Symposium 2015 titled " Reviewing the 11th Malaysia PLan (2016-2020): Tapping the Opportunities & Plugging into the Provisions" here Sunday.

The blueprint for the socio-economic development of the Indian community is among the essence of the 11th Malaysia Plan tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in the Dewan Rakyat on May 21.

Samy Vellu, who is also Malaysia's Special Envoy for Infrastructure to India and South Asia, said YPS will be submitting its two reports titled "Transformational Agenda for Community Reliance and Cohesion" with a list of 10 key Indian community concerns and recommendations, and also the proposal" Five Strategic Thrust Areas" to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak soon, and hoped immediate action will be taken on recommendations made.

"Let us have a positive outlook. Our prime minister has during the 10th Malaysia Plan period established four special units with full-time staff (for the advancement of the Indian community) employed by the Federal Government," he said.

"The prime minister has already recognised eight critical issues and concerns. This is work in progress and the Cabinet Committee on Indian concerns is directly chaired by the prime minister, and all these are major efforts by the Federal Government," he said.

Touching on the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP), Samy Vellu said there is a need to set up an information and dissemination system to ensure that the Indian community is not left behind under the government's target to increase the average income of B40 households from about RM2,500 a month in 2014 to more than RM5,000 a month by 2020.

"We must set up a hand holding process of working together with the urban poor, displaced plantation workers and low income families living in flats so that they too can experience social mobility and well being," he said.

Samy Vellu said there is a need to reach the estimated 695,030 Malaysian Indians who were at the bottom 40 percent or B40, with 139,010 families living in 38 districts in nine states who are earning less than RM2,537 a month.

Thus, YPS hoped it would be able to establish operational centres in all these 38 districts to assist them, and for this year, the organistion will start with three operational centre in three districts, he added.

-- BERNAMA