MELAKA, Dec 1 — The Barisan Nasional (BN) government will continue to develop the Indian community and views this as a continuous process, said BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The Prime Minister said the government would continue to ensure the distribution of the country’s wealth would carried be out fairly as well as inclusively for all communities.
“As the government, we are always working to ensure the policies upheld by the BN are fair with the distribution of wealth and opportunities in all fields more inclusive so that each community regardless of whether they are the majority or minority will have a better future under the BN,” he said when opening the 67th MIC annual general meeting here today.
Present were MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron, MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S.Subramaniam and former MIC president and Malaysia’s Special Envoy (Infrastructure) to India and South Asia, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu .
Najib said that he, as the Prime Minister and BN chairman, is responsible for listening to the views and proposals from all BN component parties as well as Malaysians on shortcomings and weaknesses so that improvements could be made.
“This is an aspect I have been looking into in the last four and half years when I began the process to improve the position of the Indians as the 2008 general election gave signals that the Indian community needed more serious attention from the BN government,” he said.
He said efforts to resolve the problems of the Indian community had been carried out and as a result support from the community to the BN had improved.
As an example, he said, in education, the national average grade (GPN) of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (National-Type Tamil School) had improved to 2.31 points in 2013 compared to 2.58 in 2010 and it was only 0.04 point away from the GPN of Sekolah Kebangsaan (national schools) this year.
Nonetheless, Najib said he was not satisfied with the achievements made for the Indian community as there was still room for improvement.
“Support of the Indian community has improved, but I feel the support is not overwhelming and that is why I still consider our efforsts are a work in progress,” he said.
In this regard, Najib denied that the 2014 Budget only allocated 0.08 per cent from the total of RM264 billion to the Indian community.
He said various allocations through ministries such as housing for the people also involved the Indian community.
“We are not busy raising salaries unlike them (Selangor state goverment) who claim to be fighting for the people…do not be hypocrites,” he said in reference to the latest salary and allowance hike for the Selangor Menteri Besar, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, state executive councillors and assemblymen of between 87 to 373 per cent.
— BERNAMA
