Since 2008 General Elections , the Federal Government has taken a number of special measures to address the growing discontentment of the Indian Community towards the BN led Federal Government.

The GE-12 has demonstrated the major shift in the voting patterns

Analyst and politicians are saying the Indian community is back to give the current PM, a second chance through his very engaging , direct link with the people at the grassroots and his rallying call to trust him

While there have been some efforts through Tekun and Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia to address the access to micro and small loans , there has not been any major effort in addressing the overall economic position of the community

Therefore at the grassroots , while there is happiness in receiving small hand-outs , a majority of people feel that the short term popularity gains are non- sustainable

There is a firm conviction that until and unless the capacity of ordinary people in entrepreneurship is built alongside some definite steps to create greater access to business loans , business training and capacity building with changes made at the policy level for the benefit of the Indian businesses, the Indian dilemma will continue to live

The setting up of various Bumiputera Agencies to assist them in retail, construction & the service sector has proved successful

Why can’t similar agencies be set up to initiate and promote Indian business in the infrastructure projects, vendor business with government linked companies, issue permits for construction , commercial vehicles etc

The capacity building encompassing the above projects will reap positive multiplier effect on the Indian community

The critical question is how are we going to move low income earning families to high income if there is no systematic and strategic planning specifically to address the economic and business situation for Malaysian Indians.

The half-day forum organised by MIBA aims to;

•  Articulate the current status of their economic development of the Malaysian Indian Community noting what has been undertaken since GE-2008
•  Identify the root causes are these attitudinal or structural
•  Chart out recommendations and concrete programs in capacity building

MIBA’s objective is to give the Indian community in Malaysia a special opportunity to articulate the current situation and seek in a practical way to resolve the concerns so as to enable every Malaysia irrespective of his/her ethnicity or religion or gender to be part of the inclusive development promised by the current Prime Minister.

The findings from this forum will be submitted to the PM and the MIC President.

Date : 1st April 2012

Venue : Lotus PJ, Jalan Gasing

Program

2.00pm : Registration /Tea

2.15pm Welcome speech & setting the agenda

Speaker- P.Sivakumar (MIBA President)

2.25pm : Session 1 Panel to review the current status

Panel of Speakers : Datuk VKK Thiagarajan (President KL/Selangor Chambers)

Mr. Kumeresan (Builders Association)

Prof Terence Gomez (UM)

Panel Moderator – Dr S.Sivamoorthy (MIBA Adviser)

4.00 pm Session 2 - Charting the way forward for community -- Economic Empowerment

Panel of Speakers : Dato Hj Tasleem (President NIAT)

Dato Pradeep (Memudah)

Dato Mohana Krishnan President(MIE)

Panel Moderator : YB Charles Santiago

5.30 PM Final sum up & General Comments-

Moderated by Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria

6.00. close

View Findings