1,600 Lembah Pantai families get RM150 Deepavali vouchers

KUALA LUMPUR: About 1,600 families in the Lembah Pantai parliamentary constituency will receive RM150 vouchers in conjunction with Deepavali to help ease their cost of living and cover preparations for the festival.

Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the first phase of distribution began yesterday evening, involving more than 300 recipients, while the remaining vouchers would be distributed at several other locations in the constituency tonight.

"They can redeem these vouchers at several supermarkets within the Lembah Pantai parliamentary constituency.

"I hope this will help them prepare for and celebrate Deepavali in a joyful atmosphere, while easing some of the cost-of-living pressures by helping them purchase essential items," he told reporters after the Lembah Pantai parliamentary constituency's Deepavali aid presentation ceremony yesterday.

On initiatives announced in Budget 2027, Fahmi, who is also Communications Minister, said the MADANI government had provided various allocations and targeted assistance to empower the socioeconomic status of the Indian community in the country.

He said the Budget allocated RM150 million in business financing through Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) and Tekun Nasional, as well as RM150 million for the Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (Mitra).

"We believe these measures can help, particularly for small business owners. They can use the funds to get their businesses up and running, purchase equipment and meet other needs, subject to the eligibility criteria set by AIM and Tekun Nasional.

"Secondly, there is the RM150 million allocation for Mitra. This is also an increase. Much of the feedback I received concerned applications for grants or assistance from Mitra. This involves access; I will convey this feedback to Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, the minister responsible for Mitra," he said.

Apart from funding and financing for entrepreneurs, Fahmi said the welfare of the Indian community was also supported through direct benefits, including Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) and assistance to repair Tamil national-type schools (SJKT).

Meanwhile, Fahmi said he had obtained approval from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) to replace the faulty lift at the AC4 Flat in Taman Sri Sentosa, with work scheduled to begin early next year.