19 High-impact Programmes For Indian Community This Year, Says Ramanan

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- A total of 19 high-impact programmes across three core areas under the Socioeconomic Development Programme for the Indian Community (PPSMI) have been planned with an allocation of RM22.27 million for this year, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, who is also responsible for addressing issues related to the Indian community and the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (MITRA), said the three focus areas for community development include education and training, spirituality and culture as well as social well-being.

In this regard, he urged parties not to play up sentiments inside or outside the House and on social media by claiming that the Indian community is being neglected by the Prime Minister and the MADANI Government.

“It is evident that the MADANI government today has done more to protect and safeguard the welfare of the Indian community compared to previous administrations,” Ramanan said when winding up the debate on the motion of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) in the Dewan Rakyat today. 

Ramanan also dismissed claims that MITRA had failed to utilise its allocations for 2023 and 2024, stressing that the agency had spent 100 per cent of its funds in 2023 and 99 per cent in 2024.

He said in 2023, MITRA fully utilised RM100 million across 221 initiatives benefiting 134,510 members of the Indian community, while in 2024, RM98.9 million was spent on 13 programmes, benefiting 122,082 individuals across different age groups.

“Each year, MITRA is allocated RM100 million to implement PPSMI. Its implementation is intervention-based, focusing on entrepreneurship and careers, education and training, spirituality and culture and social well-being,” he said.

He stressed that coordination was necessary to prevent overlap and duplication of resources, particularly in areas such as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), which fall under the jurisdiction and management of the National TVET Council.

On the 13MP, Ramanan said the document outlined measures to uplift the socioeconomic status of the Indian community through initiatives and programmes based on the Malaysian Indian Blueprint and the Indian Community Action Plan.

“The initiatives and strategies include enhancing capacity and capability through education and talent development, covering Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), TVET, career opportunities, improving basic infrastructure, providing housing repair assistance and increasing access to home ownership.

“In addition, it focuses on strengthening economic activities, entrepreneurship and social development, improving governance at both community and institutional levels, and expanding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalisation to ensure precision and maximum impact,” he said.

-- BERNAMA