KUALA LUMPUR – The Finance Ministry has allocated RM602 million for ethnic minorities, covering Orang Asli, Chinese, Indians, and native communities in Sabah and Sarawak.
Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the monies set aside for the Orang Asli will be used to implement a programme to increase the community’s standard of living via subsidies, schooling assistance and welfare aid.
Speaking during the tabling of Budget 2022 in the Dewan Rakyat today, he said that RM274 million is expected to be disbursed to assist almost 200,000 Orang Asli individuals.
Additionally, Orang Asli students attending secondary schools will have their pocket money from the government increased to RM4 a day.
Meanwhile, the government has allocated RM200 million for the Chinese community.
“This allocation, among other things, will be to implement upgrading programmes for homes and facilities in new villages, as well as access to funding for residents,” Tengku Zafrul said.
As for the Indian community, RM145 million has been allocated to strengthen the socio-economic position of the community via the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) and loans under the Indian Community Entrepreneur Development Scheme.
The ministry has also provided RM10 million to provide children in Sabah and Sarawak with better access to education related to culture and traditions.
Further, to promote the country’s unity agenda and volunteerism at the community level, the government will provide a RM6,000 grant for each Rukun Tetangga locality.
Some 8,000 Rukun Tetangga localities are expected to benefit from this grant valued at RM50 million.
Additionally, Putrajaya will also provide an allocation of RM50 million for the maintenance, upgrading and development of non-Muslim houses of worship. – The Vibes, October 29, 2021
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