The Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) has announced increased funding for the Vetri MADANI programme as part of efforts to expand career opportunities for the Indian community, particularly those from the B40 group.
Minister of Human Resources Dato’ Sri Ramanan Ramakrishnan said the programme will be implemented this year in collaboration with Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp) and the Human Resources Development Corporation (HDR Corp).
He said discussion on the new allocation are ongoing, but current funding under TalentCorp and the ministry for the Malaysian Indian Skills Initiative (MiSI) 2.0 stands at RM4 million.
“I assure you it will be doubled, but the exact level will be studied according to needs. We do not want to waste funds, every sen must be properly used,” he said after officiating the MiSI 2.0 graduation ceremony.
Dato Sri Ramanan said registration for the Vetri MADANI programme will be opened to gauge public response before the final allocation is announced, adding that additional skills training will be introduced to meet current industry demands.
Highlighting the success of MiSI 2.0, he said 300 out of 400 participants have secured employment with monthly salaries ranging between RM3,000 and RM7,500 depending on their respective fields.
“I hope Vetri MADANI can help graduates obtain higher salary offers, especially in sectors such as engineering and artificial intelligence (AI),” he said.
Commenting on the review of minimum wage implementation, Dato Sri Ramanan said such reviews are conducted regularly to ensure better pay for workers, noting that the minimum wage has now increased from RM1,300 to RM1,700.
On a separate matter, he advised the public not to exaggerate issues related to the conduction of places of worship, including temples.
“Our country has laws and regulations. If we all follow the rules, no problems will arise. We also provide channels for discussion to resolve any issues that come up,” he said.
Dato Sri Ramanan also highlighted that through the Dharma MADANI programme, the government allocated RM20 million to more than 1,000 temples while RM3.5 million was allocated to houses of worship last year through the Prime Minister’s special allocation.
Sources: Bernama
