2018 Budget Shows Seriousness In Implementing MIB - Subramaniam
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 (Bernama) --The 2018 Budget shows the government's seriousness in implementing the Malaysian Indian Blueprint (MIB) that aims to bring a better future for the Indian community nationwide.
MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said specific measures announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in the budget tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on Friday would spur the implementation of the blueprint launched in April this year.
"The 2018 Budget demonstrates the government's commitment to addressing the under-representation and under-performance of Indians be it in education, employment or wealth, facilitating their growth while promoting fiscal prudence," he told a press conference, here, today.
Dr Subramaniam, who is also Health Minister, said this also proved that MIB was not mere political rhetoric.
Among others, the proposed budget stipulates the distribution, through PNB, of 1.5 billion additional units of Amanah Saham 1Malaysia for the Indian community. It also sees RM50 million being channelled through Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usahawan Niaga (TEKUN) to assist more than 35,000 entrepreneurs from the community.
In addition, RM50 million is allocated for the Indian community's socio-economic development programmes while another RM50 million is for upgrading and maintenance of national-type Tamil schools.
Dr Subramaniam also lauded Najib's announcement in the budget that through MIB, new intake of Indians into public service was targeted at seven per cent.
"At every MIC annual general assembly there would be one resolution passed, that we want a seven per cent intake in the government service. And the prime minister has finally brought our wish into fruition," he said, noting that currently the intake among Indians into the government service was around four per cent.
The MIC leader said the party would now engage with the Public Service Commission on how to bring this matter forward.
Asked whether the budget was tailored to fish for votes in the next general election, Dr Subramaniam said this was not the case.
He said Najib had been announcing positive things for the Indian community since taking office in 2009. ''So, you cannot say that every year is election year, right?" he added.
-- BERNAMA
