NIBONG TEBAL: The government has and will continue to introduce numerous initiatives to help all Malaysians, including the Indian community.
Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk R. Ramanan said under the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra), RM100 million had been allocated to the community.
He said there was also the recently launched RM50 million Bank Rakyat Indian Entrepreneur Financing-i (BRIEF-i) programme, the RM30 million allocation under the National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (Tekun Nasional), as well as the RM50 million grant under Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) to empower Indian women.
"So, we have been working as a team to help every community, including the Indian community. We are colour-blind.
"If you ask if my visit here today, as well as other ministers before this is to secure the Indian votes, it is not.
"Mitra has organised various programmes here. For the Indian community, we have introduced various assistance to help them," he told newsmen after attending a programme organised by Mitra in collaboration with various government agencies.
The programme, held at Dewan Orang Ramai Bandar Tasek Mutiara here, aimed to provide advice and assistance to the people of Sungai Bakap in dealing with various government agencies.
Present was Mitra chairman P. Prabakaran, who is Batu member of parliament.
Others were Education Minister Datuk Fadhlina Sidek and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's senior political secretary Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, and the unity government's candidate for the Sungai Bakap by-election Dr Joohari Ariffin.
Ramanan was also asked about the Indian voters' hope for the unity government candidate, to which he said the community was looking past race and skin colour.
"They looked at where the candidate is from and they are aware that it is a good party. They will always support someone with good intentions," he added.
When asked about racial sentiments involving the BRIEF-i application as raised by certain quarters recently, Ramanan said two "clowns" were playing up the issue.
One of the two had alleged that he could not apply for the programme because of an issue with halal certification and he was a non-Muslim.
"I will let this slide this time. But if anyone tries to stir up racial issues again, I will lodge a police report.
"Don't try to create racial division. We are living in a peaceful country," he said.
