PKR’s N Surendran said the blueprint, launched by Prime Minister Najib Razak on Sunday, was vague on details, allocation of funds and implementation mechanisms.
He added that the RM500 million shares scheme for those with low household incomes was “a pittance”.
“Is this sufficient for an Indian population of two million? Compare this with the RM250 million given to a single company called NFC, which was run by the family of a top Barisan Nasional (BN) leader,” he said in a statement today.
Referring to the assurances given in the blueprint that the problem of stateless people in the Indian community would be resolved, Surendran said the authorities’ actions proved otherwise.
“The authorities continue to object to many applications for blue identity cards from Malaysian Indian adults and children who were born in Malaysia and have resided in Malaysia all their lives.
“The excuse usually given is that their documents are incomplete. Heavy burdens are put upon applicants and their applications are thus frustrated,” Surendran said, adding that the authorities also seem to be doing everything they can to deny these deserving applicants by fighting their efforts all the way up to the highest courts in the country.
The Padang Serai MP also brought up the issue of custodial deaths, saying that a high number of cases involved those from the Indian community.
“In the case of Balamurugan, who died in police custody on Feb 7, 2017, no policeman has yet been brought to justice, despite the fact that the autopsy report states that he was severely beaten in police custody.
“In the case of Dharmendran, who died in police custody in May 2013, all the accused policemen were acquitted of murder last week, and no one has been held accountable,” Surendran said.
He also said BN should have just put all their resources into fulfilling the last Indian blueprint which was agreed upon by Najib and the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), representing the Indian community, prior to the last general election (GE13) in 2013.
“Instead of reporting what they have done to improve the situation of the Indian community over the past four years, they have announced yet another grand plan.
“Najib and BN must show real seriousness of purpose and commitment in tackling the manifold problems of the Indian community in tandem.
“Other marginalised and impoverished communities must also not be forgotten,” Surendran said, adding that the announcement of the new blueprint prior to GE14 raises questions about the government’s sincere commitment to it.
Hindraf: Najib’s blueprint for Indians an ‘April fool’s trick’