Penang Govt Committed To Ensuring Continuous Progress Of Indian Community
GEORGE TOWN, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- The Penang government remains committed to ensuring continuous progress for the Indian community, with emphasis on economic opportunities, quality education and overall well-being.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said as a caring government, Penang maintained its strong commitment to ensuring that all Penangites, regardless of background, enjoyed the benefits of development fairly.
“Whether at the federal or state level, this reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring that the progress of the Indian community continues to be strengthened, with emphasis on economic opportunities, quality education and community well-being,” he said in his Deepavali message today.
Chow said in the current development context, Deepavali reminds us that true progress lies not merely in material success but in upholding human values, love for one another and the spirit of cooperation.
He said 2025 marked an important milestone in strengthening efforts towards realising the Penang2030 Vision, with various policies and initiatives focusing not only on economic growth but also on human development and the socio-economic well-being of all people.
Chow said Penang’s development would be meaningless if certain groups were left behind, and in line with this aspiration, various housing and community initiatives had been introduced, including the integrated resettlement project for residents of Ladang Byram, Seberang Perai Selatan (SPS), involving a cost of RM18.4 million.
He said the high-impact project involved the construction of 68 terraced houses, a two-storey school and the relocation of the Maha Mariamman Temple to a more suitable and conducive site.
The project, Chow said, would not only improve the living standards of the predominantly Indian community there but also reflect the state government’s commitment to ensuring that the benefits of development are shared by all.
At the same time, he said human capital empowerment continuesd to be the main focus of the state government.
“From 2010 to 2024, under the supervision of the Penang Hindu Endowments Board (HEB), a total of 3,755 students received scholarships totalling RM4.92 million. This is a continuous investment in nurturing a knowledgeable, skilled and values-driven young generation,” he said.
Chow said that in the religious aspect, the state government has always valued and supported the development of non-Muslim houses of worship and Hindu temples, which function not only as places of worship but also as centres of unity and cultural heritage that must be preserved.
He said various allocations had been provided to improve facilities and support the implementation of programmes, including those involving Tamil schools across the state.
Chow said that at the federal level, Budget 2026 outlines several significant measures to strengthen the Indian community, including the Indian Women Entrepreneur Empowerment Programme (PENN), which received an allocation of RM100 million, and socio-economic programmes under the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (MITRA).
-- BERNAMA
