Following criticism of the prime minister by Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia chief P Waythamoorthy, English language daily New Straits Times has published a half-page ‘Report Card on the Indian Community’.

It lists the government’s efforts to uplift the community, covering the areas of education, skills training and business development.

The report will be continued tomorrow.

In today’s edition, the list comprises:

  • Committing RM540 million for infrastructure development of Tamil schools since 2009;

 

  • Approving seven new Tamil schools;

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  • Establishing the ‘Action Plan for Tamil Schools Unit’ under the Prime Minister’s Department to monitor Tamil school issues and chart a blueprint for the schools’ future;

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  • Free primary and secondary school education in government schools since 2012;

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  • Allocating 1,000 addition seats for Indian students in government matriculation colleges, bringing the total to about 1,500;

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  • Introducing an annual quota of 10 percent of places in government polytechnics for Indian students;

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  • Allocating RM50 million for skills training programs aimed at Indian youths from a plantation background;

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  • Providing RM8 million in funding to transform existing Indian sundry shops and automotive workshop; and

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  • Establishing the Special Secretariat for the Empowerment of Indian Entrepreneurs to help Indian businesses to get financing and provide advisory services.
    • This was published alongside a report on tweets sent yesterday by Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar, who accused Waythamoorthy of failing as a team player while a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.

    Waythamoorthy, who has resigned from his post, accused Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak at a press conference yesterday of being a liar and betraying the Indian Malaysian community.

    A day earlier, he issued an open letter to apologise to the community for failing to get the government to deliver the socio-economic policies that had been promised.

    Waytha asks KJ: You tried working with no money?