Ramanan Launches Vetri Madani Programme, Promises Boosted Funding for Indian Community Skills Training

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12: The Human Resources Ministry has announced the launch of the Vetri Madani program, aimed at expanding career and skills development opportunities for the Malaysian Indian community, particularly those from the B40 income group.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan said the program will be implemented in collaboration with Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp) and the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRDCorp). He added that the government plans to increase funding to strengthen training initiatives and improve employment outcomes.

“The current allocation under TalentCorp and the ministry for the Malaysian Indian Skills Initiative (Misi) 2.0 is RM4 million. I assure you this amount will be doubled, although the exact figure will be determined based on actual needs. We must ensure every sen is used effectively,” he said after officiating the Misi 2.0 graduation ceremony on Thursday.

Ramanan said registration for Vetri Madani will open soon to gauge public response before the final allocation is confirmed, allowing the government to tailor training programs to current industry demands.

He highlighted the success of Misi 2.0, noting that 300 out of 400 participants had secured jobs with monthly salaries ranging from RM3,000 to RM7,500, depending on their fields of expertise. He expressed hope that Vetri Madani would help graduates secure even higher-paying roles, especially in engineering and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors.

Commenting on the minimum wage review, Ramanan said periodic evaluations are necessary to ensure fair compensation for workers, noting that the minimum wage has increased from RM1,300 to RM1,700.

On religious infrastructure issues, he urged the public not to exaggerate concerns regarding the construction of places of worship, including temples. He stressed that Malaysia has established laws and procedures to manage such matters and channels for dialogue to resolve disputes.

He also said the government had allocated RM20 million to more than 1,000 temples through the Dharma Madani program, while RM3.5 million was distributed last year to various houses of worship under the Prime Minister’s special allocation.