MIC leader Dr S Subramaniam has described the series of measures
unveiled by the government recently to help the Indian community as a
sign that it never marginalised the community.

S.Subra acknowledged that the series of policies announced after the cabinet committee meeting were results of the general elections outcome.

As a responsible government, not only has it responded to the message (by voters), it also sent the message back to the community that ‘look here, we never intended to marginalise you’

He also had described these policies as a major achievement for MIC. Perhaps he meant the only achievement in last three decades.

The government has been very sensitive to the requirement of the community and is actually committed to address the Indian community’s problem so that it can be at par with the other communities

Obviously one have to take his statements as something with an hidden meaning. What S.Subra was actually trying to say is the exact opposite. He gave us clues – by linking the decisions with general election results and using the phrase “never intended”. So, if the results were different, what would have been the status of the committee?

That’s why his statements are important. By making those seemingly self-serving statements he is indeed telling us SOMETHING.

S.Subra also said the cabinet
committee will have a monitoring team, led by his ministry, to check
implementation progress of these policies. He also called on the Indian community to take up what was offered by the government.

It’s
for the community to move forward now and avail themselves to these
opportunities. Of course the opportunity can be given but the person
must also take the initiative to come forward,” said the MIC leader.

I wrote my views about the decisions of the committee earlier. ynway, here’s more details about the committee’s decisions:

• To convert 372 partially-aided Tamil schools into fully-assisted schools.
• Consolidate schools which had an enrolment of less than 50 students.
• To ensure at least eight percent of Indian representation at all levels in the civil service. To achieve that, it will also see more promotions for Indian civil servants.
• The MIC-run Asian Institute for Medicine, Science and Technology (Aimst) to be re-categorised as one of the five private universities which recognise government-sponsored students to boost the intake of Indian students into critical sectors like medicine and engineering. At present, students who receive government scholarship were only given a list of choice of universities which does not include Aimst.
• To allow Indian contractors to take part in government projects at all levels. For government’s mega projects, it is suggested that certain sub-contract jobs be given to Indian contractors.
• Indian entrepreneurs to be given more opportunities in the development of vendor development scheme through companies like state-owned oil firm Petronas and national car-maker Proton.
• Easier access to government loans for Indian entrepreneurs.
• More taxi and bus permits for Indian companies.
• To increase the Indian corporate equity from the current 1.1 percent to 1.5 percent in 2010. To do this, the government is planning to set up a unit trust scheme based on the Permodalan Nasional Berhad model to allow Indians to invest in the scheme to increase their equity in the market.