HULU SELANGOR, Feb 26 — Indian leaders had to “beg” for public fund allocations during the Mahathir administration compared to the current government, a senior MIC leader claimed.

MIC deputy president Datuk Seri S.K Devamany said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has done a lot for the community, especially funding for schools and projects, unlike former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad whom he accused of being stingy.

“During Mahathir’s era, Indians had to beg for money. Samy Vellu had to beg for a paltry million every year,” he said at a Barisan Nasional (BN) public forum, referring to former MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

“But, this good man (Najib) has given up to RM80 million a year for Indians,” Devamany added.

The deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department also said that from his past experience working with Najib in the Cabinet, he always put the people and their problems first.

“Najib is a good man. He cares for the people. Najib always talks about people’s problem.

“He knows people can’t afford houses. He knows it’s hard, he wants us to work hard to resolve it,” Devamany said.

Maglin Dennis D’cruz, senior vice-president of the People’s Progressive Party (myPPP), said the Indians should reward Najib with their unwavering loyalty in the next general election.

“It was so hard for Indians during Mahathir time. Now we have so much of allocation from the government.

“We should respect this and, in return, cast 60 to 70 per cent of our votes for Najib,” he stressed.

Devamany also took the chance to warn Hulu Selangor residents not to be influenced by the Opposition or even by their children in university, who might be anti-government.

“Be careful of your children, if they come back from holidays from their universities and want to convert you to Opposition supporters.

“Don’t listen to them, stand your ground. You know better,” the senator said.

BN said it will host a series of roadshows around Malaysia to explain current issues and to debunk the Opposition’s allegations against the government.

The speakers in Hulu Selangor included ministers Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan, Datuk Mah Siew Kong and Tan Sri Noh Omar, among others.