Government will fulfill expectations, aspirations of Indian community, says PM Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today pledged the Barisan Nasional (BN) government would not let down the expectations and aspirations of the Indian community.

In stressing that he did not want the Indian community to be left out of the country’s rapid development, Najib (picture) said he wants to see the community progress and be successful.

“I will ensure that the Indian community will enjoy a better future, just like the other communities in the country,” he said when speaking at the 2013 National Ponggal Celebrations at Dataran Merdeka, here, tonight in front of about 100,000 cheering fans.

Also present were his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, MIC President Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim, Federal Territories and Urban Well-Being Deputy Minister Datuk M. Saravanan and Malaysia’s Special Envoy (Infrastructure) to India and South Asia, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

Najib acknowledged that the challenges and problems faced by the Indian community must be given due consideration by the BN government.

The prime minister added that he would discuss with Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the Education Minister, about the possibility of converting Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) which did not receive government assistance, to be converted into fully government assisted schools, in stages.

“We will also set up pre-school education in SJKT because early education is very important,” he said.

Najib said Tafe College would also be upgraded to a University College status because the institution has the capability to provide technical expertise that is needed by the country.

The prime minister said the government would also allocate funds to upgrade community centres and crematoriums and raise the equity for the Indian community.

“Please give me ‘nambikei’ (trust), please believe and have confidence in me. If you give me and the BN government ‘nambikei’ we will certainly do more for the success of the Indian community in the country,” he said. — Bernama