KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today detailed the distribution of the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (MITRA) in 2024, as well as other forms of assistance given to the Indian community to dispel talks that the community had been neglected and Mitra had failed in the distribution of the specific RM100 milllion allocated to it.
Addressing the issue during the Minister’s Question Time session in the Dewan Rakyat today, Anwar said RM98.9 million had been spent in 2024, benefiting 122,082 members of the Indian community.
From this, RM9.3 million was distributed for early education (tadika or kindergarten), RM17.63 million for IPT B40, RM20.99 million on laptops and RM218,000 for programmes for Tamil schools, RM7.99 million to subsidise payment for dialysis patients, RM15.4 million on Mitra Sinar Cahaya Aid programme, as well as grants for small and mid level entrepreneurs amounting to RM2.7 million and other programmes.
Anwar also said apart from the specific MITRA allocation, other forms of assistance for the Indian community are channelled comprehensively through various ministries.
These programmes too have given benefits to the community in areas such as education, housing and business.
He cited the national assistance given to all Malaysians, Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) cash aid, saying that this amounted to half a billion ringgit in 2022 for the Indian community, while for 2025 it reached RM1 billion for the community. Additionally, the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme worth RM1.2 billion has been provided for the community.
— WE