As highlighted by Mahendran (evidently one can view TEKUN website as well), one of the rules listed is:

Bumiputera dan berumur 18 – 65 tahun.

I’ll consider it as information not updated yet,  because back in 2007, Samy Vellu said that TEKUN has opened application to Indians for the special fund from government (EPU or MECD?). Oh, one more thing, their “SKIM-SKIM PEMBIAYAAN & PROGRAM TEKUN NASIONAL” is not accesible. So one does not know what schemes are being offered.

TEKUN has been one of the vehicles used to provide allocations for Indians in the last few years. In July 2007, Samy announced that Rm3 million will be channeled through Yayasan Tekun for “500 Indian youths to obtain micro business loans“. At that time, the fund was open for graduates of Giat Mara and Insken. However, not many applied for the fund said Samy. Interestingly, MIC and YSS was supposed to do conduct roadshows to provide info on the fund application. The figure RM3 million was repeated last year, but no one clarified if its the same as the one in 2007 or a new amount. Well, let’s leave the past to the past.

We now hear deputy minister in PM’s Department, Senator T Murugiah saying that RM12 million has been allocated by EPU via TEKUN (released last week!) to “help Indians who find it difficult to obtain loans to start small businesses or expand existing ones” that “would provide opportunities for the community, especially youths.”

“The Indian community should stop blaming the government for not doing enough for them. The community should take this opportunity to turn makkal sakthi (which means people’s power) into porlaadharam sakthi (economic power) for itself,” he told reporters after opening a seminar on micro-business and agro-based industries, which was organised here by the Indian Community Affairs Department in the Prime Minister’s Department yesterday.

Hmmm…I think its high time the “Indian Community Affairs Department” has a microsite under PM’s Dept website because the deparment is not even listed in PM’s Department structure (mind you, its been one year since last election!). So, cynics like me will wonder if these things really exists. And if I’m not mistaken, the said department is under SK Devamany while Murugiah handles Public Complaints Bureau.

In case readers want to clarify, please email/tel/fax them as follows (all info below available in public domain):

Murugiah:
Telephone: 03-8888 3540 / 1440
Fax: 03-8888 3541
E-mel : murugiah@pmo.gov.my

SK Devamany:
Telephone: 03 – 8888 3360 / 3361 / 3362
Fax: 03 – 8888 3363
E-mail: skdevamany@pmo.gov.my

Murugiah also mentioned that the fault may lie with the community:

He said he learnt during briefings by the Youth and Sports Ministry and the Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Ministry that the Indian community either showed little interest in starting businesses or was unaware of opportunities available.

On a side note, he said that he sponsored 300 Indian youngsters to train in leech rearing in Butterworth as the business gave high returns.

Previously, the application of the funds can be made via YSS (Level 5, Menara Manickavasagam, at No 1, Jalan Rahmat, 50350 Kuala Lumpur, telephone (03) 4041-5958 or Fax (03) 4041-5681.). But not sure now, since PPP’s Murugiah had sort of taken over the project. As mentioned by Mahendran, one wonders if a long article on the RM12 million can be written, how hard is it to just insert information on HOW TO APPLY or WHO TO CONTACT? Doesn’t it make the reporter, editor, newspaper company, and the deputy minister look dumb? If an officer/executive/clerk/student write article like this without mentioning the most important fact, surely will be sacked or get low marks. What to do, we the public have to suffer substandard reporting like this.

So, those still interested to apply, just call the person in charge (Senator Murugiah) and get more details from him.

UPDATE: YSS website mentions the following:

In Perak, YSS with the assistance of the MIC Perak and especially with the smart partnership with Perak MIC youth conducted at least 15 road shows. During the road shows, information on this loan scheme was disseminated and the application forms were distributed to those requested. This road show received wide response from the young Indians. A total of nearly 850 people participated in these road shows conducted in and around Perak.

As of date YSS have received 185 applications forms from the State of Perak alone. In Perak the response was truly good. A word of appreciation goes for the hard work and support rendered by the Perak MIC. Dato G. Rajoo and the MIC Perak Youth Chief Mr. Shanmugavellu.

The loan that is made available will truly assist the young people to further enhance their businesses and in turn will improve their income level and economic status. We have come to understand that the Tekun Nasional will disburse the loan for all applicants within a month. It has been told to YSS that the first batch of 37 applicants will receive their loans before Deepavali.