500k /28,000 = M17.85 per person. Well, something is better than nothing, as they say. And its coming from an allocated sum of RM3.5 million for the non-Muslims. So the other communities (Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, etc) are left with RM3 million.
IPOH: Half a million ringgit for a community of more than 28,000 people may seem paltry for some, but for the leaders of the Sikh organisations here, the annual allocation of RM500,000 beginning next year is their wish come true.
Union of Perak Sikh Organisations (UPSO) chairman Dheer Singh lauded Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir for providing an allocation for the state’s Sikh community.
“We never had any budget that recognised Sikhs as a community deserving of financial assistance from the government.
“I salute Zambry for the announcement,” he told the New Straits Times yesterday.
On Wednesday, Zambry announced a RM500,000 allocation to the Sikhs, which will come from the RM3.5 million allocated for non-Muslim affairs in Perak.
The state government gave the allocation following talks between Zambry and UPSO over the last few months on issues facing the Sikh community.
UPSO represents eight major Sikh organisations in the state: Khalsa Diwan Malaysia, Guru Kalgidhar Diwan Malaysia, Sikh Single Mothers Association, Perak Sikh Union, Perak Sikh Youth Association, Perak Sikh Education Aid Fund, Milap Club and the Punjabi Party of Malaysia.
Zambry said he understood the plight and struggles of the Sikh community.
“I hope with this allocation, the Sikhs will be able to carry out important projects for the good of the community,” he said, adding that the state government was prepared to increase the allocation in subsequent budgets.
Non-Muslim Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the state goverment would work with UPSO to identify how the allocation should be spent.