20,000 Malay Indian families at risk of becoming hardcore poor

Kuala Lumpur, July 19 (ANI): The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) president S. Samy Vellu has said that some 170,000 Indian families remain stuck in the low-income bracket, and out of these, 20,000 can be categorized as hardcore poor.

According to the New Strait Times, Vellu was speaking to reporters after a ceremony to honour the community's 361 Public Service Department (PSD) scholarship recipients here yesterday.

He said: "What is worrying is that about 20,000 families earn less than RM720 a month and could slip into the hardcore poor category."

Samy Vellu said the last 15 years had seen much positive change in the capability of the Indian community to attain its goals.

"For instance, Indian parents unlike their predecessors place greater importance on educating their children to become professionals."

Samy Vellu urged PSD scholarship recipients to work hard and excel in their foundation and pre-university courses. (ANI)