Malaysian Government allocates 20 million ringgits to train Indian youths

Kuala Lumpur, Feb. 24 (ANI): Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has said the Government has approved a first stimulus package of twenty million ringgits for the training of Indian youths.

The Human Resource Ministry has identified various appropriate skills training programmes to be offered by private institutions under the package.

"With the money, we will buy places for the youths, especially to give opportunities to those from the estates," The Star Online quoted Najib, as saying.

Indians between the age group of 18 to 40 can apply for the training programmes.

Under the first stimulus package, the government has also announced a fifty million ringgits allocation for upgrading Tamil schools.

Addressing a press conference after the Cabinet committee meeting on the plight of Indians, Najib said the number of Indians in the public sector was 44,392 or 4.1 percent and the Government hoped to recruit more to reflect the 7.4 percent composition in society.

"Allocation of the Public Services Department scholarships would also be fairer and more just to Indians," said Najib.

Asked if Barisan Nasional would get a Malaysian Indian Congress candidate to contest in the Bukit Selambau by-election, he said the Barisan Supreme Council would decide on the matter.

Answering a query if the Umno general assembly would be postponed as there were a few by-elections around that period, he said the assembly would go on as scheduled. (ANI)