A careful examination of Budget 2025, as outlined by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, reveals that the proposals will benefit all Malaysians, regardless of race, and no community is left behind.

The budget is driven by a need-based, not race-based, approach, reflecting the principles of the progressive and inclusive Madani Economic Framework. This marks a significant shift from the previous race-based affirmative action to policies focused on socio-economic needs.

For instance, the allocation for education is comprehensive, supporting Tamil, Chinese and national-type schools, ensuring that all communities benefit based on their needs rather than ethnicity.

This approach ensures that all communities, including the Indian community, benefit from allocations based on socio-economic needs rather than ethnicity, with the priority on addressing genuine requirements.

Wealth distribution

In this regard, it would be pertinent to expound on the importance of wealth distribution as some sections of the population had raised questions on this delicate point. Critics concerned about wealth distribution, particularly within the Indian community, should note that the Madani government has made significant provisions for their welfare, including education, religious institutions and employment opportunities.

Notably, the prime minister's reference to the Tamil literary work Thirukkural highlights the government’s focus on fair wealth distribution for the collective good. In his Budget 2025 speech, Anwar had quoted the Thirukkural, the most celebrated of the Patiren-kirkkanakku (Eighteen Ethical Works) in Tamil literature, attributed to poet Thiruvalluvar from the 6th century.

PMX cited Kural 385 from Chapter 39, which outlined the qualities of a good leader with regards to wealth distribution in that “he who acquires wealth, develops and guards it, will be able to distribute it for the good of the state and the welfare of the people”.

And that’s what the Madani Economic Framework is all about – taking into account everyone in this country. Even foreign workers get to reap the Madani benevolence – they and their employers are even factored into the Employees Provident Fund, a move that will negate selfish and greedy employers who had long taken advantage of migrant workers.

If we were to look at the incentives available under the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) and its agencies for micro-loans amounting to RM3.2 billion, this means that small traders, including the disabled community, the Indian, Chinese and Bumiputera communities can avail themselves to assistance offered by the National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (TEKUN) and Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN).

In addition, Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad and SME Bank are offering special financing to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with available funds totalling nearly RM600 million. Indian SMEs, in particular, can tap into the assistance provided under this scheme.

The RM100 million to the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit or MITRA and RM30 million to the TEKUN-SPUMI (Indian Community Entrepreneur Development Scheme) must be viewed as additional and on top of the allocations in the total budget for the Indian community.

Maintenance of schools

And under the aegis of inclusivity, RM2 billion has been set aside to upgrade and maintain schools nationwide. Of that amount, RM1 billion will be dedicated to fixing up various school types including national, Chinese, Tamil and religious schools, military camp schools and special education institutions for persons with disabilities (PwD). As such, the Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKTs) will also greatly benefit from the budget for operational and capital expenditure.

The Education Ministry has been allocated RM64.1billion, marking the highest funding in history. This reflects Anwar’s visionary approach towards education for students to have a comfortable, safe and meaningful learning environment as they will matter much eventually as the country’s future workforce and even future leaders when they become adults.

Similarly, the budget has emphasised education and skills training as a pragmatic pathway for the future, with funds allocated for technical and vocational education and training (TVET), scholarships and digital education. In this regard, members of the Indian community, particularly the youth, can capitalise on these programmes to enhance their skills and future employability in several emerging sectors.

As for direct benefits to the hardcore poor, many poor Indian families will also benefit from the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) initiatives next year, with allocations rising to RM13 billion from RM10 billion and covering nine million recipients or 60 per cent of the adult population. A total of 4.1 million household STR recipients will receive SARA amounting to RM100 per month, compared to 700,000 recipients this year.

Business development

In terms of supporting business development, many business and entrepreneurship initiatives in the budget do provide for access to credit, capacity building and market expansion for Indian entrepreneurs and SMEs. These are in innovation, digitalisation and business expansion, which will enhance community empowerment and job creation for the Indian community as well as others.

With the emphasis on digitalisation in the national budget, this will be a key area for the Indian business community to take advantage of besides the government’s encouragement for public-private partnerships in various sectors such as education, health and economic development. These are opportunities for Indian businesses and institutions to take an active role in collaborating with the government to maximise the community’s participation in these initiatives.

In summary, Budget 2025 reflects a serious commitment to inclusivity, with policies that empower all communities based on their needs, fostering long-term socio-economic progress.

-- BERNAMA

Datuk Yong Soo Heong is a former editor-in-chief and chief executive officer of BERNAMA.