300 Food Baskets Distributed To B40 Families For Chithirai Puthandu

SUBANG, April 19 (Bernama) -- A total of 300 food baskets were distributed to B40 families to ease their burden in celebrating the Tamil New Year celebration of Chithirai Puthandu.

Sungai Buloh Member of Parliament Datuk Seri R. Ramanan said the initiative also involved the provision of cash assistance and daily necessities to ensure the target group could welcome the new year with joy.

He said Malaysians were celebrating the Tamil New Year with gratitude as the country remained peaceful despite economic challenges.

“We celebrate this Tamil New Year with great gratitude as the nation continues to enjoy peace. Although there are challenges related to the economic crisis, we remain thankful to be able to celebrate this occasion together with those in need,” he said.

He told reporters this after officiating at the Chithirai Puthandu MADNI 2026 celebration at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple here today.

Ramanan, who is also the Human Resources Minister said his ministry remained committed to expanding social assistance programmes in the Sungai Buloh parliamentary constituency, while also paying attention to the management of temples in the area.

On the Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (MITRA), he said the disbursement of approved funds to temples would begin next week.

“For the first phase, assistance will be channelled to 300 temples, while the second phase will involve more than 300 additional temples. In total, over 600 temples will benefit from this initiative,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ramanan said MITRA had drawn up various new plans that would be announced in stages in the near future.

He said MITRA’s main focus this year would be to strengthen the education agenda and enhance employment opportunities for the Indian community through allocations under Budget 2026. 

-- BERNAMA