KUALA LUMPUR: MIC today urged Indian leaders in Pakatan Harapan to implement programmes to empower the Indian community in the states they governedto ensure the newly-launched Malaysian Indian Blueprint (MIB) achieved its target.
MIC treasurer-general Datuk Seri S. Vell Paari in a statement slammed Pakatan leaders who recently discredited the blueprint, claiming that it was a political ploy by the government to garner votes from the Indian community.
“The MIB is a long-term commitment, and if you really want to see a comprehensive achievement of the MIB targets, then obviously we need the same government to continue ruling.
“Not a government led by a party or coalition which has repeatedly failed to recognise the needs for special intervention to address issues in the Indian community,” he said.
On April 23, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak officially launched the blueprint to empower the Indian community over the next 10 years.
The MIB was launched with specific targets and policies set in place to address the plight of Indians.
The blueprint contains solutions to several key issues affecting the community such as education, improving livelihoods and better social inclusion.
Vell Paari said for the Indian community to be empowered, it had to be done via a dedicated government policy and political will, citing the New Economic Policy which was implemented to empower the Bumiputra community, in which the MIB had replicated similar concept.
He called on the Indian community in Malaysia to join forces for their benefit of by sharing suggestions and plans to enhance the blueprint.
“Every one of you is a stakeholder to MIB and rightly so as this ultimately affects your lives in Malaysia.
“For the first time, we have a prime minister who has put forward a great platform to empower the Indian community.
“Since Najib became prime minister in 2009, it cannot be denied that he has done more for the Indian community than any of his predecessors,” he said.