SITF AFTER SIX MONTHS - Focus Areas & Staff team

SITF secretariat team together with SITF Chairman, Datuk Dr Subramaniam

Our Prime Minister established the Special Implementation Taskforce on the Indian community (SITF) in June 2010. The SITF secretariat became operational in August 2010. Over the past six months, SITF has become a household name in the Indian community because of the two major grassroots initiatives namely Program Mesra Rakyat and the My daftar campaign

In both these national wide programs, the SITF Chairman, Datuk Dr Subramanian and team sought to bring the federal government agencies to the hand reach of the Indian community.

Through the main policy and implementation discussions with Federal agency heads at Putrajaya and with the delivery officers at the district level, the SITF team sought to bridge the gap between the Federal government on the one hand and the people especially the bottom 40% on the other.

SITF role has been made possible due to the support received from political volunteers from the MIC and other BN component parties, community leaders from religious, business, community and social voluntary organizations. As SITF is an institution under the Prime Minister’s department it has been possible to play a bridge building role.

We are still a very new institution facing many challenges, however the impact has been great and we have fostered confidence especially among ordinary people that Federal government cares for them and is accessible to them. Over the coming months through an improved solutions track record SITF will seek to win ‘hearts and minds’.

We all agree that more needs to be done and we are confident that together we can seek the transformation that is intended with a vision to see especially the poor and low income from among the Malaysian Indian community improve their quality of life and experience higher income levels resulting in better outcomes on par with the rest of Malaysian society.

SITF AREAS OF FOCUS

SITF’s focus has been in three main areas. We have worked to strengthen these and in the next six months we will consolidate policy advocacy and formulation, community intervention & delivery and thirdly, stakeholder partnerships and engagement.

Coordinating Policy advocacy, review & input on six major areas of concern in partnership and cooperation with relevant federal government agencies. In these we seek to secure basic data on Indian community participation and identify the current hurdles and draw up strategies to enhance Indian participation.

The six areas of policy concern are:-

1) Poverty & low income,

2) Employment opportunities in the public sector,

3) Economic development (access to loans and training),

4) Ensuring quality foundational education (pre school, primary & secondary education),

5) Enhancing post secondary educational and training opportunities and

6) Concerns pertaining to crime and dysfunctional families

Organising and facilitating direct community based initiatives which have a direct impact on the needs and concerns of ordinary people at the grassroots. Three such initiatives are:-

1)      Program Mesra Rakyat – at the district level to ensure there is effective delivery by all the relevant federal government agencies especially social welfare, sosco, micro loans, skills training, documentation etc. An ongoing program and we will organize more in 2011

2)      My Daftar National Campaign – held from Feb 19 to 26, 2011 to identify and document all Malaysian Indians without relevant citizenship documents. We have identified about 15,000 people and another 10,000 people who have taken the forms but have not submitted them. This is ongoing to ensure solutions over the next 6 to 9 months.

3)      Community Initiatives – at a pilot phases SITF is promoting programs for the bottom 40% such as

·        Micro loans for informal sector through Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, financial advice and management through AKPK (Bank Negara), and micro loans and training through SME Corp.

·        Ensure increased youth participation through Indian based youth organizations in all program by the federal government such as Ministry of Youth & Sports.

·        Neighbourhood based community programs at high rise low cost urban flats in the Klang valley. In the first phase to initiate community based programs at Lembah Subang, Desa Menteri and Petaling Utama.

·        Networking with Malaysian Royal Police in crime prevention programs and addressing community issues pertaining to crime, detentions and reducing Indian involvement

Networking and stakeholder consultation – SITF has sought the partnership of political parties, religious institutions, voluntary societies, business association and professional organizations and individuals.

Both at policy discussions and review and at the level of community action, SITF has sought the support of individuals and organizations. We have fostered a close working relation with all including the media and academic institutions. This networking will be strengthened through increased engagement and dialogue. In addition the SITF website in English and Tamil will enhance connectivity to a wider audience.

SITF SECRETARIAT

 There are currently five people working in the SITF staff team under the PM department (via Pemandu). The team first started with the employment of a full time secretary in August 1, 2010 and subsequently the recruitment of a program consultant in September and two staff in October 2011. The third staff was recruited in March 1, 2011.

The five SITF secretariat members are:-

Secretary          :          Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria

Consultant        :           Dato Siva Subramanian

Managers         :           Mr Thanasagaran Maniam

                        :           Mrs Premla Balakrishan Ravin

                        :           Ms Selvamalar Selvaraju

From the Minister’s office Mr SP Manivasagum (Minister’s Special office on Cabinet Committee on Indian community) works closely with the SITF team.