Anwar And Nurul Izzah Inspire Me In Equal Measure

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 In 2023, when I joined the Prime Minister’s Office, I made a deliberate decision to engage with Nurul Izzah Anwar. As part of the prime minister’s mission to uplift and develop the Indian community, I chose to focus on progress in education and socio-economic inclusion.
For this, I needed someone who was fully aligned with the prime minister’s goals. And let’s be honest, who could be more in tune with his vision than his own daughter?
Nurul Izzah is not where she is because of her name. She is where she is because she was shaped by the same blood, sweat and sacrifices that built the reformasi movement. She doesn’t just carry the legacy; she carries the fire that keeps it alive.
When I spoke with Nurul Izzah, I saw in her the same relentless spirit I see in the prime minister. The same refusal to leave anyone behind, and the same mindset that refuses to divide people by race, religion, or class.
Her concern was not surface-level or temporary. It came from deep reflection, long-term planning, and a sincere drive to make change happen.
Nurul Izzah Anwar speaking at an event involving the Indian communityWith her strong drive for solid solutions, we moved forward with a two-phase journey to rebuild the future of the Indian community.
Together, we identified the pressure points like the gaps in education, the stalled opportunities, and the voices that had long gone unheard by engaging directly with Indian MPs, state assemblypersons, and senators to chart a path forward based on real needs and shared solutions.
From there, we decided to develop a long-term Indian blueprint, taking into consideration the needs which can be incorporated into the 13th Malaysia Plan as well.
With the prime minister’s endorsement, the Prime Minister’s Office hosted engagement sessions with youth, women, academicians, non-governmental organisations, economists, civil servants, and more. Nurul Izzah personally supported and attended the latest session to share her input.
Her beliefs and experiences have made her strongly convinced that education is the key to both opportunity and survival. She strongly supported my mission to revive five Tamil schools that had long been categorised as “projek sakit” (ailing projects).
These schools include SJKT Seafield and SJKT Braunston in Selangor, SJKT Ladang Pertang and SJKT Ladang Sagga in Negeri Sembilan, and SJKT Heawood in Perak.
No empty promises
Her commitment didn’t stop there. We formed a special committee dedicated to Tamil schools and Tamil education as a whole. This committee’s role is to align, monitor, and implement effective solutions to ensure meaningful progress in education for these communities.
Nurul Izzah Anwar (sitting, third from left)Following ongoing discussions and collaborative efforts, I am proud to share that one result is the prime minister’s successful approval and allocation of RM30 million to improve six Tamil schools.
From the Prime Minister’s Office, I am now working closely with the Education Ministry and the Finance Ministry to ensure this allocation is disbursed transparently, accurately, and in a way that creates meaningful impact for the community.
The funds will be released soon through the proper channels, marking a significant milestone in advancing Tamil education.
On the other hand, I witnessed genuine concern about the racial tensions that arose, and the harmful labels directed at temples following the Masjid India temple issue.
She was firm in her belief that solutions must be pursued peacefully and respectfully. Together, we are actively developing long-term strategies to resolve this issue decisively and sustainably. The work is in progress.
This is what I have experienced over the past one and a half years working closely with Nurul Izzah. There were no empty promises and no grand gestures. Only real, strategic planning with the sincere intention to serve all Malaysians.
The Indian Community Action Plan is a reflection of this commitment. Now is the time to bring it to life. So, with no doubt, if not her, then who else can truly understand and carry forward this shared vision of PKR for all communities? - Mkini
SHANMUGAM MOOKAN is the special duties officer to the prime minister.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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