Sikh reps to attend 11th Malaysia Plan discussion

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Asia Samachar |30 May 2015

Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA), parked under a Malaysian public university, is organising a one-day symposium to discuss the position of Indians in Malaysia’s next 5-year national plan.

Some representatives of a number of Malaysian based Sikh organisations have indicated to the Asia Samachar that they plan to attend the programme.

The event is titled ‘Reviewing the Eleventh Malaysia Plan (2016-2020: Tapping the Opportunities & Plugging Into the Provisions’.

It is jointly organised with Yayasan Pemulihan Sosial (YPS) in collaboration with the Unit for Socio-`Economic Development of Indian Community (SEDIC) under the Prime Minister’s Department.

“It is important for Sikh leaders to engage the authorities in matters like the national plan. Attending such a function help them get a better grasp of issues at play,” one Malaysian-based Sikhs academician told the Asia Samachar.

The Malaysia Plans are 5-year blueprints for the nation. The latest plan was unveiled by the Prime Minister on 21 May.

The event will be held at at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) from 9.30am to 5.30 pm today (Sun, 31 May 2015).

KITA, an institute under Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), is led by its founder director Prof Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin.

On April 16, the three organisations had hosted a National Symposium on the 11th Malaysia Plan.

The symposium brought together academics, special officers in the Federal government addressing Indian concerns, community leaders especially NGOs carrying out programs and business leaders in the Indian community, wrote Dr Denison Jayasooria, a  principal research fellowat KITA, in an article for an online new portal.

A report entitled Ensuring Inclusive & Equitable Development: Policy Agenda for Malaysian Indians & the Eleventh Malaysia Plan (2016 -2020) has been prepared and submitted to EPU and the Minister Senator Abdul Wahid Omar, he added.

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