PETALING JAYA: A total of RM145mil has been provided for socio-economic programmes to uplift the ethnic Indian community, says the Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.

       The fund was among others, to be channelled into the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) and the Indian Community Entrepreneur Development Scheme (SPUMI) under the National Entrepreneur Group Economic Fund (Tekun).

       To encourage the children of Sabah and Sarawak to deepen their knowledge of culture and heritage, Tengku Zafrul also announced a total of RM10mil for the purpose.

       To the Orang Asli community, a total of RM274mil had been allocated, among others, for subsidies and school aid as well as welfare aid for the benefit of nearly 200,000 people.

       "Next year, the government will also increase the pocket money for secondary school students to RM4 a day," he said.

       To support the unity agenda and culture of community volunteering, the Government had also provided a grant of RM6,000 for each Komuniti Rukun Tetangga (KRT), with more than 8,000 KRTs to benefit from this grant with a total allocation of RM50mil.

       The Government has also allocated RM50mil for repair works, maintenance and development of houses of worship under the jurisdiction of local authorities.

       "This provision also covers community activities organised in collaboration between the houses of worship and local residents," he said.