http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/National/2114112/Article/index_html
20 December, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has taken measures to improve the lot of Indians and has never neglected the community. But MIC president Datuk Seri Samy Vellu said last night the delivery system was sometimes ineffective.In an interview with RTM1 last night, Samy Vellu said several programmes under the 9th Malaysia Plan, though approved by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, had not been implemented at the ground level."The prime minister gave the opportunity to the leaders of all races to voice their opinions when the 9MP was being drafted."We came up with recommendations to better the Indian community and he agreed to these."But a year and a half later, though a few of them have been implemented, we can see that the delivery system is, for the most part, not working," he said.Samy Vellu said he had brought this up with the prime minister and asked that the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) ensure that the programmes were carried out as planned. He added that the programmes included those for increasing awareness, promoting entrepreneurship and investment ability as well as developing youth skills."We have also asked for micro-credit schemes to be provided as we want to have at least 5,000 people in business by the time the 9MP is concluded."Besides that, Samy Vellu said, the Indian community also needed funds for the maintenance of Tamil schools."There are 120 schools that need to be either repaired or rebuilt. "The prime minister accepted all that we said in the two meetings we had. By the way, why shouldn't he? It was in his (9MP) plan after all!"He said those who claimed the government had not helped Indians over the last 50 years were lying. He said Indians were much better off today than 50 years ago."Once upon a time, Indians used to earn RM250 to RM300 a month. Now they earn about RM1,500 to RM2,000 a month. "They once used to work in plantations as labourers, but there are now thousands of highly educated professionals."Samy said it was not fair to say that the government had not provided for the Indian community."Even the Malays and Chinese don't get everything they wish for. There is no way you can get 100 per cent of what you ask."On the use of the words "ethnic cleansing" by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), Samy Vellu said: "Hindraf leaders do not know the meaning of the word. This is what happened in Bosnia but it is a baseless accusation here."Samy Vellu said he had met with many people following the demonstrations and asked them why they had gotten involved."They said they were a bit 'hot' that day because there were people who made them 'hot'."But now they have cooled down and have come to realise that street demonstrations are not the best way to ask for something."
