KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19: Member of Parliament for Klang, Ganabatirau Veraman today sought for some clarity from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on the allocation of government funds under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13), asking if there were any specific allocations to help bring the Indian community out of the poverty trap.
Speaking during the Minister’s Question Time session in the Dewan Rakyat today, Ganabatirau wanted to know if there were any specific allocation for these Indians, considering that some of them were the poorest in the country and what kind of guidelines would there be in the distribution of such funds .
Commending the prime minister for his serious attention to the plight of the community, he also wanted to know how the fundings meant for the Indian community were being monitored, such as those under the allocation of the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit or Mitra. He also wanted to know the outcome of an aircraft engineering training programme for 100 Indian youths, and whether they have been gainfully employed. He also said the laptops given to several Tamil schools were not working and they were found to be second hand computers.
“It is not like we want to paint Mitra as failure, or put out a narrative of failure. We do want you (Anwar) to push forward with development and we want this government to stay. We just want the support of the people who had chosen us at election and continue to stay with us. I just want to voice out on how all the efforts that are being taken (providing funds) are being monitored and whether the allocated funds are reaching the ones who really need them.”
Anwar said, the assistance being given to the hardcore poor in the country through the different states were irrespective of race and it covered all communities including Indians. He also addressed the question on the Indian youths who had gone through the aircraft engineering training and said their names were available and that their information could be relayed to the MP.
— WE