Provide 2,500 matriculation seats for Indian students to uplift the community

Senator Datuk C Sivaraj has called upon Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to enhance the socio-economic standing of the Indian community by allocating 2,500 specialized matriculation seats to Indian students.

I would like to take this opportunity to request the prime minister to set the number of placement for students post-SPM into matriculation to be set at 2500 annually due to the backward socioeconomic standing of the Indian community.

“This large number would provide the space for more youngsters from the Indian community to fast track their education and raise their family’s socio-economic standing so that they can get out of the vicious poverty cycle.

“This substantial increase in placements will provide more opportunities for young people from the Indian community to fast-track their studies and subsequently help improve the socio-economic status of their families, enabling households from poor backgrounds to break free from the vicious cycle of poverty in line with the nation’s direction and development,” he said in his royal motion of thanks speech.

He pointed out that he was aware that there may be political calculations regarding this matter but as prime minister for the whole of Malaysia, Anwar has to be fair.

“I believe that the Malay and Chinese communities would also appreciate and support the Prime Minister’s efforts to assist the Indian community in our country. The Malay or Chinese communities would not reject support for the Prime Minister simply because it benefits the Indian community,” he added.

Subsidy scheme to upgrade the employed

He also called for a special subsidy scheme for those in the job market to upgrade themselves with necessary skills.

“Graduates from two decades ago, now in their 40s, remain pivotal for economic growth, actively contributing to the labor market and propelling the economy forward.

“My proposal to the government is to establish a special subsidy scheme for this group to pursue diploma studies or micro-credential programs with permission.

“This scheme will focus on enhancing management skills, updating knowledge in cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), and improving workers’ skills in often overlooked economic sectors.

At present only 1,600 placements are offered. This has been the figure since 2017.