AN examination of the 2025 Budget, tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Friday, reveals that the proposals will benefit all Malaysians.
The Budget follows a need-based, and not race-based, approach. This reflects the principles of the progressive and inclusive Madani Economy framework.
It is a significant shift from previous race-based affirmative actions to policies focused on socio-economic needs.
For instance, the allocation for education is comprehensive, supporting Tamil, Chinese and national-type schools, ensuring that communities benefit based on their needs rather than ethnicity.
In this regard, it would be relevant to explain the importance of wealth distribution as some sections of the population had raised questions about it.
Critics concerned about wealth distribution, particularly within the Indian community, should note that the government has made significant provisions for their welfare, including education, religious institutions and jobs.
Notably, Anwar's reference to a Tamil literary work highlights the government's focus on wealth distribution.
In his budget speech, he had quoted the Thirukkural, the most celebrated of the Patiren-kirkkanakku ("Eighteen Ethical Works") in Tamil literature, attributed to sixth-century poet Thiruvalluvar.
He cited Kural 385 from Chapter 39, which outlined the qualities of a good leader with regard to wealth distribution, in that "he who acquires wealth, develops and guards it, will be able to distribute it for the good of the
state and the welfare of the people".
And that's what the Madani Economy framework is all about: taking everyone into account.
Even foreign workers benefit: they and their employers can contribute to the Employees Provident Fund.
Micro-loans offered by the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry and its agencies amount to RM3.2 billion. This means small traders, including the disabled, Indian, Chinese and Bumiputeras, can avail themselves of the assistance offered by the National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (Tekun) and Bank Simpanan Nasional.
In addition, Bank Pembangunan Malaysia and SME Bank are offering financing of nearly RM600 million to micro, small and medium enterprises.
Indian SMEs can tap into the assistance provided under this scheme.
The RM100 million for the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit or Mitra and RM30 million for the Tekun-Spumi (Indian Community Entrepreneur Development Scheme) must be viewed as over and above the allocations in the Budget for Indians.
RM2 billion has been set aside to upgrade and maintain schools nationwide.
Of that amount, RM1 billion will be dedicated to fixing up various school types, including national, Chinese, Tamil, religious schools, military camp schools and special education institutions for persons with disabilities.
So Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil will benefit from the allocation for operational and capital expenditure.
The Education Ministry has been allocated RM64.1 billion.
This reflects Anwar's approach to education.
He wants students to have a comfortable, safe and meaningful learning environment.
Similarly, the Budget emphasised education and skills training as a pragmatic pathway for the future, with funds allocated for technical and vocational education and training, scholarships and digital education.
In this regard, Indians, particularly the youth, can capitalise on these programmes to boost their skills and employability in emerging sectors.
Many poor Indian families will benefit from Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) initiatives next year, with allocations rising to RM13 billion from RM10 billion and covering nine million recipients, or 60 per cent of the adult population.
A total of 4.1 million households will receive Sara amounting to RM100 per month, compared with 700,000 this year.
In terms of supporting business development, many initiatives in the Budget provide access to credit, capacity-building and market expansion for Indian entrepreneurs and SMEs.
The emphasis on digitalisation in the Budget is a key area for Indian businesses to take advantage of, besides the government's encouragement of public-private partnerships in education, health and economic development.
These are opportunities for Indian businesses and institutions to collaborate with the government. Bernama