NGOs push 3 proposals to uplift the Indian community

A coalition of 19 Indian NGOs, known as Gelombang Saksama, has proposed three initiatives to address the socio-economic challenges faced by the Indian community in Malaysia. Former Klang MP Charles Santiago, speaking for the coalition, suggested the formation of a dedicated statutory body as the primary agency to implement measures aimed at improving the community's socio-economic position.

The first proposal involves establishing a public-private funding vehicle, through which both the Indian community and the government can contribute towards supporting entrepreneurship, education, and welfare initiatives. Santiago disclosed that research conducted by the NGOs indicated that approximately RM100 million could potentially be raised from the community in the first year alone.

The third proposal is for the establishment of a Cabinet committee to tackle the community's day-to-day problems. Santiago emphasized that the Cabinet committee should be set up as soon as possible, as it would lay the groundwork for the proposed funding vehicle and the dedicated statutory body. The Indian community, which constitutes around 6.5% of Malaysia's population, has seen its socio-economic situation deteriorate over the past decade.

Santiago called for greater efforts to strengthen the community, highlighting the question of whether the community should strive to be weak or strong.

Bersama leader Rafizi Ramli stated that the party would consider the proposals as it develops its policy papers, which will form the basis of its manifesto. Rafizi also acknowledged the concerns regarding the numerous promises made to the Indian community over the years, emphasizing the importance of implementation. He noted that even if the broader issues are successfully addressed, there will still be specific groups requiring attention due to their unique challenges and contexts.