Back BN, Indian parties advised

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PUTRAJAYA: Indian-based political parties should support Barisan Nasional whether or not they are in the coalition, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

Acknowledging that many groups had emerged to champion the Indian community, the Prime Minister said it was important that these groups or parties back Barisan.

“The Indian community will go through a process of deciding, in terms of their political representation. I see this as a transition period.

“Eventually, they will consolidate their position but more importantly, whether they are outside or inside Barisan, they are supporters of Barisan,” he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the Cabinet committee on the Indian community yesterday.

Push for participation: Najib getting ready to chair the Cabinet committee on the Indian community in Putrajaya yesterday. Also present were (from left) Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Samy Vellu and Dr Subramaniam.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and vice-presidents Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, Datuk S.K. Devamany and Datuk M. Saravanan were also present at the meeting.

Asked if the time was right for other Indian-based parties to be a part of the coalition, Najib, who is also Barisan chairman, said: “That is up to the Barisan supreme council to deliberate and decide.”

There have been calls to allow not only the Indian Progressive Front (IPF) to become a Barisan member but also new political establishments such as Makkal Sakhti and the Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress (Kimma).

On another matter, Najib said the construction of new Tamil schools and buildings was on hold as the RM100mil allocation in the first and second economic stimulus packages was inadequate due to rising cost of building materials.

He said the Government had budgeted RM85,000 per classroom when the allocation was made but the committee was informed that the cost had risen to RM125,000 per classroom.

He said the committee was also informed that as of May 31 this year, the intake of Indians in the public sector was 5.01% compared to 4.52% in 2008, and promised that efforts would be enhanced to meet the 7.4% target of Indians serving in the civil service.

Meanwhile, Najib said a special students’ hostel to reflect the 1Malaysia spirit of togetherness would be set up soon.

He said the hostel, planned to be in operation in the Klang Valley next year, would house students from different backgrounds to enable them to learn to mingle comfortably and freely.