KUALA LUMPUR: The 2018 Budget is the most comprehensive one which seeks to address and tackle issues faced by the Indian community.
MIC treasurer-general Datuk Seri S. Vell Paari said the budget tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak seeks to further further improve and develop the community to meet the challenges ahead in an ever challenging world environment.
“The Prime Minister announced five (5) key initiative for the Indian community but the most significant of all is the target of 7 per cent admission and enrollment for Indian students into public universities and the Indian community into the Civil Service, he said in a statement today.
He said the measures taken by Najib who is also the Finance Minister shows the care and concern he has for the Indian community.
“The announcement by the Prime Minister also shows he walks the talk in ensuring what has been promised to the Indian community is documented and delivered.
“This is the same for the Malaysian Indian Blueprint which is a reference document that will be adhered to by the government in ensuring the well being of the community and all planned targets are achieved.”
Vell Paari said in general the budget covered the whole spectrum involving well being of the Indian community.
“No one is left out and this goes to show the care and commitment the government has to the rakyat. Everyone matters.”
The 2018 Budget sees RM50 million being chanelled to the Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usaha Niaga (TEKUN) to assist more than 35,000 entrepreneurs and injected an additional RM50 million into the Indian community’s socioeconomic development programme.
A new initiative was also introduced for the Indian community amounting to RM1.5 billion in the form of additional units of Amanah Saham 1Malaysia, which is limited to 30,000 units per investor.
Najib also reiterated that new intake of Indians to public higher learning institutions and public service would be increased to a targeted seven per cent as charted in the Malaysian Indian Blueprint that he recently launched.