KOTA KINABALU: MIC Sabah chairman Datuk V. Jothi said his party would be requesting for bigger allocations from the government in the upcoming budget.
“I would like to thank Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, for all the allocations and various forms of assistance that he has given to the Indian community.
“I hope the government will give more allocations to the Indian community in the upcoming budget, or for all the other races for that matter,” Jothi said, when met by reporters at the MIC Sabah Deepavali open house at Likas Sports Complex on Tuesday.
He disclosed that the state government had recently given allocations for the development of temples in the state.
“Every single temple in the state has received allocations. However, I do hope that the state government will increase these allocations in the future,” Jothi said.
For example, the temples in Bukit Padang, Lok Kawi, Sandakan and Tawau should be given RM50,000, RM20,000, RM50,000 and RM30,000, respectively, Jothi suggested. This amount would give the religious practitioners at these temples comfort when they conduct their respective activities.
“I really hope that the government will consider this,” he stressed.
He asserted that the country was lucky to have an caring leader such as Najib.
“He (Najib) will listen to whatever the people say. This is the kind of leader that we want,” he disclosed, adding that Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Haji Aman is equally excellent in his role as a leader.
“Musa had always shown concern for the Indian community of Sabah, even though we are the minority here,” he said, adding that the government will always give opportunities to every single race in the state.
In line with this, Jothi urged the Indian community of Sabah to continue to vote for Barisan Nasional in the next election as it is the most reliable party in the country.
“We live in peace and we have beautiful infrastructures. What else do we want?” he said.