MITRA’S MANDATE FOR INDIAN COMMUNITY REMAINS UNCHANGED – RAMANAN

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (MITRA) will continue to serve as the primary agency overseeing the socioeconomic development of the Indian community through targeted intervention programmes.

Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Datuk Seri R. Ramanan said the disbursement of MITRA funds through other implementing agencies does not amount to a deviation from its mandate, but is instead part of an inter-agency cooperation mechanism approved by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“The initiatives approved by the Prime Minister are interventions designed to address issues requiring cross-ministerial action, including matters related to education, welfare, spiritual wellbeing and basic infrastructure for the Indian community,” he said.

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Ramanan said the approach is also intended to ensure that MITRA’s allocations reach the intended beneficiaries directly, rather than being confined to selected organisations or individuals. He was speaking while winding up the 2026 Supply Bill debate in the Dewan Negara today.

“I would like to emphasise that 100 per cent of MITRA’s funds are channelled for the benefit of the Indian community. Not a single sen is used for any ministerial programme that does not benefit the community,” he said.

He added that development funding for the Indian community is not limited to the RM100 million allocated to MITRA, but also includes allocations channelled through various ministries and agencies benefiting all Malaysians.

These include the Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Ministry, the Education Ministry, the Human Resources Ministry, the Housing and Local Government Ministry, as well as other development programme bodies.

-- BERNAMA