It has kick-started a programme with hopes it will provide a brighter future for the community.
The “Project Indian Community”, spearheaded by MIC Bandar Baru Selayang Youth Leader Prasad Sandrasegran, aims to produce young successful entrepreneurs and professionals in the township.
At the very least, he wants to ensure youths obtain a diploma to make it easier to land jobs.
Prasad said the idea for the project came in 2012 after he was appointed as the Selayang Bandar Baru Youth chief.
He could not get the project off the ground then as he realised he needed the backing from politicians and government ministries and agencies.
Fortunately for him, after becoming the deputy chief of the MIC National Welfare Bureau in 2013, he managed to secure endorsements from ministers and MIC leaders.
“2015 was a fantastic year to start the project.
“We began identifying Indians in Bandar Baru Selayang and met around 250 to 300 Indians, 40% of them youths.”
Prasad said after obtaining the relevant statistics on what training was required, MIC Youth signed an memorandum of understanding with Tune Skills College.
He said the Human Resources Ministry, via the Labour Department, also threw in its support for the project.
His main aim now is to ensure the success of the project and he expects the first batch of students to start learning new skills soon.
“We can make it work and help Indian youths here become financially independent and empower them economically.”
Prasad also said that if this project turns out to be a success, he will push for similar ones to be conducted nationwide.