KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 (Bernama) — Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Seri R. Ramanan has been given the responsibility of overseeing and monitoring the implementation of projects involving temples and Tamil schools.
It is understood that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, through Treasury Secretary-General Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican, recently instructed Ramanan to be responsible for the affairs of the Indian community, including drafting new initiatives for the community.
Ramanan, who is PKR Vice President and Member of Parliament for Sungai Buloh, when contacted by Bernama, confirmed that he had received the letter regarding the matter last Monday.
“Yes, I have been informed about the matter and I will comment further after holding a discussion with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim soon,” he said.
When asked about his next plan, he said he would liaise with the Prime Minister’s Department and the Ministry of Education first, before announcing his plans by the end of this week or next week.
Ramanan has worked on several initiatives through the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) since being appointed to the position in December 2023 to help empower the economy of the Indian entrepreneur community.
Among them is the allocation of RM100 million through the Indian Community Entrepreneur Development Scheme (SPUMI) and SPUMI Goes Big through TEKUN Nasional, which is the largest amount in history to be specially allocated for the Indian community.
Ramanan said that a total of RM100 million was allocated for the empowerment of Indian women entrepreneurs through the Prosperity Empowerment and A New Normal for Indian Women (PENN), RM100 million through Bank Rakyat Indian Entrepreneur Financing-i (BRIEF-i), in addition to RM50 million for the Vanigham Financing Scheme under SME Bank to help small businesses.
A matching grant of RM6 million was provided through the Business Accelerator Program for Indian-Owned Companies (I-BAP) SME Corp, in addition to aid for houses of worship, the Vanakkam Madani Program, Empowering Indian Entrepreneurs (EIP), and grant aid for Indian Community Cooperatives (Bakti Madani) under the Malaysian Cooperatives Commission.
— BERNAMA