Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said there is no reason for the Indian community to withhold its support for Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the Negeri Sembilan state election, saying the coalition-led government has demonstrated its commitment to serving all communities fairly.
Speaking at a dinner with the Indian community on Wednesday, Anwar said the government has introduced various policies and initiatives to improve the welfare of the community, including increasing allocations for the Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (MITRA).
He also highlighted changes to the matriculation programme, saying students from all races who score 10A in the SPM examination are now automatically offered places, unlike previously when the programme primarily benefited Bumiputera students.
“Whether they are Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban or Kadazan, students who obtain 10A now automatically qualify for matriculation,” he said.
The PH chairman added that, for the first time, members of the Indian community are also eligible to receive financing through Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) and TEKUN Nasional, schemes that were previously available only to Malays.
Anwar acknowledged that more still needs to be done but stressed that the government is committed to helping all communities without sidelining any ethnic group.
“If you ask me whether it is enough, every community will say it is not enough. But compare it with what previous governments have done,” he said.
He also claimed that he is frequently criticised by political opponents for allegedly favouring the Chinese and Indian communities, describing it as a narrative being spread in rural areas.
Anwar urged Malaysians to reject racial politics, warning that such narratives could undermine national unity and stability.
He said he would not compromise on any attempt to exploit racial sentiments, adding that during his meetings with various Indian organisations, none had questioned the status of the Malay language, Islam as the religion of the Federation, Malay special privileges, or the institution of the Malay Rulers.
“Malaysia will only remain safe if every community is embraced and included. So why should we allow racial polemics to continue?” he said.
Anwar also announced that he would personally take over matters concerning the Indian community from Wednesday night onward as a sign of his commitment to addressing issues affecting the community, including overseeing matters related to MITRA.
