PUTRAJAYA: The new government has been urged to revamp the role and structure of the Socio-Economic Development of Indian Community Unit (Sedic) to enable it to operate independently without any political interference.
Analyst Datuk Anbumani Balan said the unit, mooted by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to help raise the standard of living of the Indian community, had the support of various quarters but the aid reportedly failed to reach the target group due to political meddling.
"We want to see a team of experts manage the unit, besides turning it into a permanent department to safeguard the aspirations and expectations of the Indian community.
"The name needs to be changed to make it more inclusive in addressing the problems faced by the Indian community," he said when contacted by Bernama on Thursday (May 17).
He also suggested that the unit be placed under the jurisdiction of a minister who would report directly to the Prime Minister and all grants and allocations for non-governmental organisations should be audited apart from making the report an open document in order to avoid irregularities.
Political analyst Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia said Sedic should be maintained but it needed a new leadership to change the socio-economic landscape of the Indian community. - Bernama
