Wednesday, February 10, 2010

October 30, 2009 23:53 PM

Government To Allocate RM2 Million To MAICCI To Train Entrepreneurs

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the government will allocate RM2 million to the Malaysian Associated Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MAICCI) to train Indian entrepreneurs to acquire appropriate skills and succeed in their business.

The amount is possibly to increase in the future, he said in his address at the chamber's dinner here.

"Hope MAICCI will continue to work with the government to address issues within the Indian community," he said.

The Prime Minister also called on the Indian community to continue to believe and work with the government to ensure continuous progress.

Elsewhere, Najib also announced the restoration of the United Asian Bank (UAB) name at CIMB Group building at Jalan Tun Perak.

"Recently someone asked for a bank to be set up for the Indian community. My answer was that such a move would be a step backwards. There was once a predominantly Indian controlled bank, United Asian Bank, but it has since merged with many Malay, Chinese and government-controlled banks to become today CIMB Bank," he said.

Najib stressed that this is the way of modern banking, that is, multi racial, large and strong, 1Malaysia banking.

What is important, he said, is to embrace and safeguard the memory of these historical financial institutions to recognise the important roles they have played in their era.

"To this end, I have asked CIMB Group to restore the UAB name on its office tower at Jalan Tun Perak and I am pleased that this has been agreed upon by the board of directors. It is my hope that the reinstated Menara UAB will serve as a beacon to remind all Malaysians at large of the proud legacy of UAB."

Meanwhile, MIC president Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu and PPP president Datuk M Kayveas also attended the dinner.

-- BERNAMA

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