M Karupaiya (PH-Padang Serai) said the funds from the government’s Socio-Economic Development Unit for the Indian Community (Sedic) alone would not help improve the socioeconomic status of Indians in the country.
“I would like to propose here, can the PH government give at least 10% of government and private sector business contracts to Indians?” he asked Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator P Waythamoorthy at the Dewan Rakyat today.
In his reply, Waythamoorthy said he would bring the suggestion to the Cabinet.
Replying to another question by C Sivarraajh (BN-Cameron Highlands), Waythamoorthy said even though the previous government proposed many programmes to help Indians, not all the funds had reached them.
He said the audit department had been asked to find out how much had actually reached the people.
“I can give you the assurance that, whatever programmes we will undertake, will only be carried out after we ensure the rightful recipients are identified, and that the proposals will truly benefit the bottom 40 (B40) group,” he said.
To a question by V Sivakumar (PH-Batu Gajah) on whether a forensic audit has been carried on out Sedic, Waythamoorthy said the first audit session began on Sept 26.
“The second audit session will be carried out soon. The entire audit process is expected to take between six and eight months to complete.
“The timeframe is because it involves many government and external agencies, as well as the complexity in the variety of programmes, with different methods of programme implementation,” he said.
Waythamoorthy said that between 2014 and last year, the government spent over RM203 million for the socioeconomic development of Indians.
He expressed hope that in the upcoming 2019 Budget, the finance minister will allocate a reasonable amount to the Indian community.
“Based on the amount allocated, I will ensure Sedic is able to implement socioeconomic development programmes for the Indian community and to achieve the agenda of uplifting them, especially those in the B40 group,” he said.
Waythamoorthy said among plans being considered were programmes to empower Indian women and efforts to encourage home ownership.