Deputy minister refutes claims Budget 2024 neglects Indians

Vijay47: Budget 2024 could be better titled “Anwar Ibrahim’s Malay-Muslim Budget” where the prime minister outdid himself in attempting to prove his Muslim credentials.

I believe that never before in all our budget proposals have allocations for a particular community assumed such overwhelming proportions.   Where his largesse was not especially visible in gifts to Muslims, it was more than compensated for in donations to the Malays.

Apart from the division into Operating and Development Expenditures, the budget is also split into “Across the Board” and “Specific Races” components. You are right, good sycophant Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Saraswathy Kandasami, Indians also stand to benefit from the first component, which includes health, utilities, and infrastructure.

But so do Malays, Chinese, Kadazans, and Ibans. If this primary component represented effective assistance for all, everything would have been fine. It is the second component that is shameful. Billions are allocated towards the Malay-Muslims; just management and development of Islamic affairs received RM1.9 billion.

Some apologists like Saraswathy may also argue that non-Malays are also beneficiaries in the monthly allocations for civil servants, police, army, Felda, and teachers. Yeah, sure, when they constitute a tiny fraction of these services. And you want the Indians to be eternally grateful for that miserable RM30 million which Umno leaders would scoff at?

As an Indian, I find the allocation of RM30 million a deliberate humiliation. Or perhaps a warning to remind us where we stand in the local landscape - go to the back of the bus. I do not think anyone would oppose assistance to Malays and Islam. But it is shocking the degree that Anwar reached in this pious voyage on which he set forth.

How ironic that in giving glory to his God, he achieved it in such an unjust and unfair manner. But like Saraswathy assured us, all is fine for the Indians. Yeah, sure, Anwar made it all fine with some unintelligible quotes from Thiruvalluvar.  

Mikka Nandri. (Thank you very much). Aiyah.

BobbyO: The RM44 billion budget for the Entrepreneur Development Ministry is for all? Are you sure deputy minister? Experiences have taught us a lot that, in the end, the Indian community gets peanuts. Look at the example of poor Indian students who scored good grades.

They have to run around looking for scholarships or aid to further their studies, while those who score less are given scholarships and all forms of aid. Billions are given away to government servants who already have a job. The government departments are predominantly made up of one race.

Billions are kept aside for Felda and Risda. Billions are kept aside for religious schools and staff. The list goes on, while the Indian taxpayers who contribute to the Treasury are made to beg for the bones or leftovers.

MIC failed big time to speak out, as they were too busy looking after their positions and perks. Now it looks like the Indian political leaders in PKR and DAP are doing the same.

All silent as a church mouse.

Thor: Many Indians might feel it doesn’t matter whether they vote for Perikatan Nasional or Pakatan Harapan. Anwar is full of empty promises and is similar to previous leaders. The budget is a move by Anwar to bolster his Malay and Muslim credentials. He doesn’t care about the Indian votes.

I won’t be surprised if many Indians feel betrayed. If Indians withhold their votes for Harapan in the next elections, the coalition will be in trouble, especially with PKR seats. The seats held by DAP are pretty secure, but there is a high chance PKR might be wiped out in the next elections.

I think we are reaching the crossroads where many Indians will think twice before they vote for Harapan.

Kilimanjaro: Saraswathy is an apple polisher. The PKR Indians are “bankrupt” and work at the behest of Anwar. The pittance announced during the budget against the colossal handouts to the Malays should convince Indians not to vote for Harapan.

He has his sights on PAS and other Malay parties. These days he gathers around him Indians who are “yes” people who care for themselves rather than for the Indians. You know what is so irritating about what she said? It is like rubbing salt into the wound. Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad used to talk the way she is doing now.

Former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi did the same. There are schemes and government efforts, blah blah blah, that cover all Malaysians. Would she dare to talk to the Malays like that? What a hypocrite. Harapan has now become a cheap tool for its leaders to make sensational and mesmerising speeches to attract the Indian votes.

Indian politicians like Saraswathy carry that banner high enough, thinking that the Indians can be duped forever.

Dummies Dhimmi: Rubbish! Whatever any prime minister says they are giving something to Indians, it rarely sees the light of day. It’s a call to a handful to take it and make it disappear. Stop segregating us or give reasons to segregate. Help the helpless regardless.

Give opportunities and encourage those who can catch their own fish. Stop spoon-feeding, stop preferential treatment. Build better, move all people up the ladder by providing better infrastructure like hospitals, schools, roads, and other facilities. Improve the quality of life and make world-class education the primary drive.

Optimus: Seems like we are stuck in a rut with never-ending race and religion topics making the headlines daily nowadays: the Malays and Islam, PAS and the green wave, and now Indians being neglected.