YSS Active in Programme Delivery

For the past two years YSS has been actively involved in programmes for the social upliftment of Malaysian Indians especially in addressing social ills and social problems. The Ministry of National Unity and Social Development, on the approval of the cabinet committee in addressing social ill released RM 2.7 million yearly over the past 2 years.

I take this opportunity to thank the cabinet committee headed by YAB Dato Seri Abdullah Bin Haji Ahmad Badawi and the Ministry for this partnership.

YSS completed 579 activities reaching out to 72, 018 targeted participants at 1st phase and 746 activities reaching out to 58, 796 targeted participants in the 2nd phase. All these were carried at among low-income families residing in squatters, low cost flats and houses, long houses or estate. Furthermore a majority of the participants were youths who are either categorised as high risk and those who are underachievers in education.

We call upon government to extend a similar grant to YSS for a third year (1994) of implementation. With this additional grant YSS can continue to serve the community especially through programmes among youths.

Recently the Malaysian government launched the national social policy and the national social council; I call upon YSS to organise itself in a more coordinated way especially at the district and local levels. This will enable district input into the delivery mechanism impacting policy and programmes. This is also necessary to strengthen partnership with grass-root social and religious organizations, women and youth section of MIC to go to the ground in meeting human needs and issues.

Extract from the written text of Dato Seri Dato’ S. Samy Vellu’s speech, which was read by Dato S. Veerasingam on September 7, 2003 at the YSS programme review workshop at Hotel Sri Malaysia, Gentling Highlands.

(Submitted on 15th September 2003)