Kuala Lumpur: Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Seri R. Ramanan hopes that the Tamil New Year will bring greater economic prosperity to the Indian community. He said economic prosperity is one of the key factors for the Indian community to be more progressive, in tandem with the country’s development.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ramanan, who is tasked with overseeing Indian community affairs, stated that the community needs to empower and strengthen itself economically, particularly among traders as well as small and medium entrepreneurs. He acknowledged the role and involvement of the Indian community in the country’s development, including in the plantation, business, and public sectors.
Ramanan also emphasized the aspects of unity and solidarity within the community to ensure that the strength of ‘Otrumai’ (unity) safeguards the hopes of uplifting the Indian community in the country. He highlighted the importance of progress, particularly in the economic field, for the community to align with the nation’s development.
He mentioned his efforts in implementing various initiatives to empower the Indian community economically through the Indian Community Entrepreneur Development Scheme (SPUMI) and SPUMI Goes Big under the National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (TEKUN). Additional initiatives include the Vanigham Financing Scheme (VFS) under SME Bank, BRIEF-i under Bank Rakyat, I-BAP under SME Corp, and the PENN Programme under Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia.
Ramanan expressed confidence that the Indian community will be able to seize all opportunities provided by the MADANI Government to grow their businesses. He also conveyed his hopes that the coming year would bring happiness, joy, and prosperity to all celebrating Tamil New Year, Vishu, and Vaisakhi and that Malaysia would continue to achieve success under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Tamil, Malayalee, and Sikh communities across Malaysia will be ushering in their respective New Year celebrations of Chittirai Puthandu, Vishu, and Vaisakhi tomorrow.