SUBANG JAYA: Narratives involving racial profiling in the distribution of aid, including efforts to eliminate hardcore poverty, should be stopped as the government helps all people regardless of race, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said the government's policy is to provide assistance without any racial discrimination.
"That is why I strongly disagree with racial profiling. If you look at my policies since my time with Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM), I opposed the New Economic Policy's emphasis on racial profiling," he said during a press conference here today.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, was responding to claims by certain parties that the additional RM130 million allocation for the Indian community is insufficient.
He said that the RM130 million allocation in the 2025 Budget was specifically for the Indian community, and there are other aids and initiatives, including those under the National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (Tekun) and Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (Aim).
He said the government had also offered Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) courses for Indian students this year.
Anwar also expressed regret over those stoking racial sentiments by claiming that Malays are under threat under the Madani government and that the Indian community is marginalised and neglected by the administration.
He added that some had also accused him of being unjust and alleging discrimination against opposition-led states.
"It is fair for you to make demands. For example, I went to Perlis, and they had asked for additional allocation; that is fine. But for you to say that you have been cruel and sidelined our state, that is not true.
"The entire strategy of the opposition is to say that the Malays, the Chinese, Indians, Sabah, and Sarawak are under threat. That's not true.
"For Tekun, we didn't have it for the Malays back then, but now we do. We also have Aim, and Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Deputy Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan has also announced other allocations.
"We have allocated hundreds of millions for the Indian community, but if you look at the narrative in the estates, it's RM134 million. So I appeal to you, please save this country from such harmful narratives," he said.
Anwar added that the allocation and development expenditure for all four opposition-led states, including Kelantan, Kedah, Terengganu, and Kelantan, has increased next year.