Selangor Journal
Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk R. Ramanan (second row, centre) with recipients of the Prosperity Empowerment and A New Normal for Indian Women (PENN) programme at Menara AIM in Kuala Lumpur, on April 13, 2024. — Picture by BERNAMA

Indians must unite, strengthen economic sector — Minister

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 — The Malaysian Indian community must empower and strengthen themselves economically, especially as traders and small and medium entrepreneurs.

These were the words of Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk R. Ramanan in his Tamil New Year, Vaisakhi, and Vishu greetings to all Tamil, Sikh, and Malayalee communities nationwide.

“I often emphasise the importance of unity among the Indian community in this country. We must unite. The strength of this ‘otrumai’ (unity) is needed to guarantee hope and safeguard the fate of the Indian people in Malaysia.

“Along with the national development process, the Indian community must also move forward, especially in the economic field. Therefore, I am working on various initiatives for the Indian community to empower themselves in the economic field,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Ramanan added that when he launched the Prosperity Empowerment and A New Normal for Indian Women (PENN) programme yesterday, he heard the extraordinary success stories of Indian women who worked hard to build success.

“Today, they are successful and outstanding entrepreneurs. Their determination to advance to a better and higher level is also my hope in introducing the Indian Community Entrepreneur Development Financing Empowerment Scheme (Spumi Goes Big) and the PENN programme. We need to have a mission and a target,” he said.

Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) has allocated a RM50 million special fund to empower Indian women entrepreneurs via PENN.

This will benefit over 7,100 new Indian Sahabat Usahawan, increasing the total beneficiaries to 10,200, including 3,100 existing Sahabat Usahawan.

The deputy minister said AIM’s initiative aligns with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s aspirations to ensure that no citizen is left behind in the nation-building process.

Meanwhile, Ramanan also prayed that this year would continue to bring the light of joy, happiness, and well-being to those who observe Tamil New Year, Vaisakhi, and Vishu celebrations.

“I also pray that Malaysia will continue to achieve success under the leadership of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,” he said.

— Bernama

 

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