Najib hands out RM8m to Indian NGOs, to give over RM70m more
By By Syed Jaymal Zahiid | The Malay Mail Online – 4 hours ago
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KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today distributed over RM8 million worth of grants to 30 Indian-based NGOs as part of his administration’s effort to assist the community, which makes up a sizeable portion of the country’s poor.
Najib said his government acknowledged that the minority group was still facing “chronic” social problems from the structural and cultural aspects, and that Putrajaya would continue to do its best to help the community improve their livelihood through such cash assistance initiatives.
“We all know that the Indians are facing chronic problems… structural and cultural ones. We have to find a way to change their mindsets … so we can move forward in consonance with a progressive society.
“I hope through MIC and these NGOs we can give our attention to the Indian community to help them achieve that structural and cultural change,” he told the grant award ceremony in Putra World Trade Centre here.
Najib revealed that under the programme his government has allocated RM82 million to be distributed to a total 370 NGOs. The RM8 million given at today’s ceremony is the first phase of distributions.
Meanwhile, MIC president Datuk Seri S Subramaniam said the programme proves that the Najib administration genuinely cares about the Indian community.
The federal minister lamented, however, the Indian community has not reciprocated Putrajaya’s kindness as many have chosen to support the opposition instead of the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration.
“There is a disconnect between the level of support shown for Najib since 2009 and the kind of help that we have received.. it is not reciprocated,” he told the ceremony.
The Segamat MP said although Najib is the only prime minister so far to have put in this much effort to aid the country’s ethnic Indians, the latter has received less support than his predecessors.
“In the history of Malaysia there has been no prime minister that is concerned about Indians as him… my greatest fear is that he may not continue to be there,” he said.
Subramaniam added that the Indians now have a “wonderful” opportunity to take advantage of Najib’s compassion for them to help elevate the community, but said they appeared to be taking it for granted.
The MIC chief said he hoped the Indian community will now change their mindset and begin recognising BN as a friend.
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