Thursday 28 Mar 2024
By
main news image

(May 15): The Penang government wants to know what has become of the billions of ringgit allocated by Putrajaya for the socio-economic development of Indians.

Deputy chief minister II Dr P. Ramasamy said it was recently reported that the federal government had set aside RM2.88 billion from 2012 to 2014 and another RM260 million this year for the benefit of the community.

He cited a report in the Tamil language Malaysian Nanban newspaper that quoted Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Irwan Serigar Abdullah from the Finance Ministry on the figures.

"Irwan reportedly said this in a press conference in Putrajaya, according to the report. We are surprised.

"Did the federal government give money to the Indians without the community's knowledge? How come we don't know about it?" he said at a press conference at the Penang legislative assembly today.

Ramasamy, who is DAP's rep Prai, asked who or which organisation had received the funds, which were reportedly for youth and women entrepreneurs, Tamil schools, skills and socio-economic developments.

"Did the money go to MIC? Did anyone hijack the funds? We really need to know where is the money.

"The Indian community usually gets a pittance and even that can get hijacked. We need to make sure that the money is channelled to those who need and deserve it," he said, adding that many Indians still faced issues of unemployment, lack of development and other problems. – The Malaysian Insider

      Print
      Text Size
      Share