KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri Ramanan Krishnan has refuted claims that the prime minister neglects the Indian community, describing critics as "mentally unsound".
"A few 'mentally unsound' individuals claimed that the prime minister does not care about the Indian community.
"It's funny because more than 10,000 people have benefited from initiatives for the Indian community. But that is not remembered (by the critics)," he said at the 73rd Annual Delegates Conference of the Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Maicci).
Ramanan urged the community to engage constructively and avoid spreading accusations.
"If you want to criticise, do it sensibly. Don't create allegations."
He said the Indian community's response to government initiatives has been encouraging, but there is a need for better awareness and sharing of the benefits.
"I'm very happy with the reception (of government initiatives). I'm very pleased that the Indian community is receiving this assistance. But at the same time, I am also saddened because the recipients of this aid should be informing their friends and neighbours that they have benefited from this, so others can benefit too."
He said the objective is not to seek gratitude but to ensure the assistance reaches as many people as possible.
"We don't ask for thanks for me, the ministry or the government, but for this aid to reach others."
He highlighted the success of programmes such as the SME Corp's Business Accelerator Programme for Indian Small Business (I-BAP).
"Companies that started with RM250,000 in capital are now worth RM1.5 million. Companies with hundreds of thousands in revenue annually now generate RM61 million."
Ramanan said that under the Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) PENN programme, "RM18 million has been allocated to Indian women entrepreneurs in just three to four months."
BRIEF-i by Bank Rakyat have disbursed RM30 million to 345 Indian entrepreneurs, while the Spumi Goes Big programme provided funds of RM10 million to 214 entrepreneurs in three months, he added.
He announced a partnership with Maicci for a new programme called Empowering Indian Entrepreneurs, aimed at training Indian entrepreneurs.
"We will seek assistance from SME Corp, the National Entrepreneurship Institute, Tekun, AIM and non-governmental organisations to provide training in finance, artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship," he said.
Yesterday, Ramanan announced an additional RM6 million through SME Corp Malaysia, specifically for micro, small and medium enterprises owned by Indian entrepreneurs, channelled through the I-BAP programme.
He reminded Indian entrepreneurs to act quickly as funds for the programme are limited and only applications that meet all the set eligibility criteria would be considered.