IBNS-CMEDIA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently on a two-day visit to Malaysia, met select leaders of the Indian diaspora on Sunday and highlighted the community’s significant contributions to Malaysia’s progress and development.
Among those he met were Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital; Ramanan Ramakrishnan, Minister of Human Resources; M. Kulasegaran, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department; and R. Yuneswaran, Deputy Minister of National Unity, among others.
The PIO leaders expressed appreciation for Prime Minister Modi’s leadership in strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Malaysia and for his initiatives aimed at deepening bilateral ties. They also lauded his vision and efforts toward transforming India.
The diaspora leaders thanked the Prime Minister for several measures undertaken for the welfare of the Indian community in Malaysia, including:
(i) the decision to open India’s first Consulate in Malaysia;
(ii) the announcement of a Thiruvalluvar Centre at Universiti Malaya;
(iii) the institution of Thiruvalluvar scholarships;
(iv) the extension of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card eligibility up to the sixth generation of people of Indian origin living in Malaysia; and
(v) the replenishment of the Indian Scholarships Trust Fund (ISTF) with RM 3 million for the benefit of Malaysian Indian students.
Prime Minister Modi also met Dato’ Jeyaraj Raja Rao, a veteran of the Balak Sena of the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army – INA), and Rathakrishnan, President of the Netaji Welfare Foundation.
He expressed deep appreciation for the courage and sacrifices of the INA and its veterans and reiterated the Government of India’s commitment to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s vision of building a strong and modern India.
Prime Minister Modi is on a two-day visit to Malaysia.
