[UPDATED] Prime Minister’s Dept to oversee troubled Mitra: Ismail Sabri

KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra), which has been mired in graft allegations, will be returned to the Prime Minister’s Department, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

He announced this today following a proposal by MIC president Tan Sri S.A. Vigneswaran for Mitra to be placed under the Prime Minister’s Department to enable the agency to carry out its agenda clearly and effectively. 

The agency is currently placed under the National Unity Ministry. 

“I also agree to establish a Mitra Foundation,” Ismail Sabri said in his speech at the launching of the national-level MIC Brigade and crime prevention exhibition here today.

He also said that an allocation of RM2 million in financial assistance has been approved by the government to help students from hardcore-poor Indian families. 

“Earlier, the MIC president had asked for the government to set aside RM2 million in Budget 2023 to help students from poor Indian families.

“Let me state here that there is no need to wait for the (tabling of the 2023) budget.

“Today, I would like to announce the approval of the RM2 million (in financial aid),” Ismail Sabri said.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has been investigating allegations that funds allocated to Mitra have been misappropriated. The agency is tasked with giving out grants for socio-economic programmes to help the Malaysian Indian community.

Last October, 16 company directors were arrested, and in February, the MACC handed over 10 cases involving the scandal to the deputy public prosecutor for further action.

On February 18, one company director was charged with making false claims to Mitra worth RM276,625.

According to the MACC, Mitra had given RM203 million in grants between 2019 and 2021 to 337 companies, associations, and non-governmental organisations.

Mitra was first placed under the Prime Minister’s Department during the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration, but was moved to the National Unity Ministry from April 2020, after the Sheraton Move that toppled the PH government.

Cabinet committee on development of Indians

Ismail Sabri also stressed that the Indian community in Malaysia will not be left behind in development, in line with the official Keluarga Malaysia outlook’s key philosophy that “no one will be left behind”.

He said this includes programmes to improve the socio-economic well-being of the community.

“This includes RM100 million under Mitra for anti-poverty efforts and the social development of the community under the National Unity Ministry. 

“Also, RM25 million (will be allocated) for Indian community entrepreneurship development programmes.”

“These are some of the government’s initiatives under Keluarga Malaysia for the Indian community.

In addition to existing efforts, he added, the cabinet has approved the establishment of a cabinet committee on Indian community socioeconomic development that Ismail himself will chair.

He also commended the MIC Brigade, expressing hopes that the unit can become an “additional tonic” that can contribute to BN’s victory in the upcoming general election. – The Vibes, September 18, 2022