Ensure successful execution of Mitra funding and programmes
LETTER | In August 2024, Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) chairperson P Prabakaran requested an increase in the allocation for the Indian community to RM300 million in Budget 2025, up from the current RM100 million.
The Batu MP said the RM100 million allocated annually wasn't enough to effectively fund initiatives aimed at improving the socio-economic status of Malaysian Indians.
He highlighted concerns that the amount would be inadequate to meet the diverse needs of the community and drive meaningful upliftment programs.
Now given that Mitra has endorsed 45 applications totalling RM40 million, which are awaiting processing at the Prime Minister's Office, why is there a delay in their disbursement?
Prabakaran had emphasised that the government needs to boost the budget to adequately support projects that are genuinely transformational for the Indian community.
Why are funding initiatives for the Indian community not given higher importance?
As June approaches, it is concerning that the Indian community remains unaware of the actual disbursement status of the RM100 million allocated to Mitra this year.
It is crucial that these funds are approved and effectively implemented without delay to provide tangible benefits for the Indian community.
Mitra opened applications for the Socioeconomic Development Grant Programme for the Malaysian Indian Community 2025 from Oct 15 to Nov 14, 2024. That was about seven months ago.
Mitra should undergo a full restructuring.
To fulfil her May 23 PKR election's promise to champion the Indian community, Nurul Izzah Anwar faces the critical task of fast-tracking Mitra's initiatives and programmes.
She must guarantee the swift approval and implementation of the RM40 million allocated for Phase 1 of Budget 2025, as any further delays will hinder tangible progress and risk the return of unutilised funds to the Finance Ministry by the third quarter of 2025.
It's been almost four months since funds amounting to RM40 million for NGOs and training organisations were approved and agreements were signed.
Yet, the money remains undistributed, and there's no clear execution plan in sight. This delay hinders vital community works and training initiatives
The recommendation is for community development professionals and experts to lead the organisation. This change is crucial to ensure both transparency and effective management within Mitra.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Cricket-T20 can be US craze like yoga and Bollywood weddings
Cricket - ICC T20 World Cup 2024 - Final - India v South Africa - Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados - June 29, 2024 General view of India fans in the stands before the match REUTERS/Ash Allen (Reuters) -Indian-American businessman Sanjay Govil is convinced Twenty20 cricket can be the next big cultural import into the United States, following a trail blazed by yoga and Bollywood-style weddings. Previous investors have held similar dreams of breaking into the U.S. sports league market, only to be thwarted by the nation's obsession with baseball, basketball and American football. IT entrepreneur Govil, however, is confident that along with Microsoft's India-born CEO Satya Nadella and Silicon Valley's Anand Rajaraman and Venky Harinarayan he can embed the short, jazzy version of cricket deeply into the U.S. sporting landscape "T20 leagues are the future," Govil, who owns Washington Freedom, one of the six franchises in the Major League Cricket (MLC), told Reuters. "Like Yoga, like Bollywood weddings, things from India and it's crazy here. "People here just love Indian wedding. When we have weddings in hotels, people just stop and watch. It's a spectacle, right?" Although cricket originated in England, India is now its financial engine with a cash cow in named the Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 competition, which has a brand value of $12 billion. IPL franchises with deep pockets also own teams in leagues in England, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, West Indies and the United States. The U.S. featured in the first international cricket match, against Canada, in New York in 1844, but cricket remains very much a niche sport in the country. RAISED PROFILE The introduction of the MLC in 2023 and staging matches in last year's T20 World Cup have raised the game's profile. Cricket returning to Olympics after a gap of 128 years at the 2028 Los Angeles Games will be "another big impetus", said Govil, who was born in Canada but grew up in New Delhi before moving to the U.S. Govil, who also owns 50% stake in the Welsh Fire franchise of The Hundred tournament in England, said MLC franchises learned a lot from their interaction with IPL counterparts. "One of the IPL owners came to my house and he educated me on how to build a team," he said. The presence of India's marquee players in the MLC would have been the icing on the cake but Govil respects the Indian board's policy of not allowing its players to take part in leagues abroad. "I'm sure they have some logic behind why they're doing what they're doing, and I respect that," he said. "I have to succeed in the cards which are dealt to me." Govil knows that cricket in the U.S. cannot rely only on the Indian market or south Asian diasporas in order to be successful. "We want to grow domestic talent. We cannot just rely on international players," he said. "We also have to create our own market here, because we cannot just rely on Indian eyeballs watching our matches." "We are in this for a long haul," Govil added. "We are making a lot of investments. We all have to have our own stadiums. "Once we have like eight or nine stadiums, that's when you're going to really see cricket growing in the U.S." (Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Ed Osmond)
Rakyat Post
5 hours ago
- Rakyat Post
Pakistan Seeks Enhanced ASEAN Partnership Status Through Malaysia's Support
Subscribe to our FREE The conference room at Pakistan's High Commission buzzed with quiet activity as reporters settled into their seats last Friday. High Commissioner Syed Ahsan Raza Shah adjusted his notes at the podium, preparing to outline his country's diplomatic priorities in Southeast Asia. Pakistan is renewing its decades-long effort to secure full dialogue partner status with ASEAN, building on relationships established since becoming the bloc's first sectoral dialogue partner in 1993. 'This matter has been discussed between the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of Malaysia. As soon as the moratorium (on accepting new dialogue partners) is lifted, we hope to be given full dialogue partner status,' Shah told the media briefing. Pakistan's diplomatic presence in Malaysia: The national flag at the Pakistan High Commission with Kuala Lumpur's skyline featuring the Petronas Towers. (Pix: Fernando Fong) The High Commissioner emphasised Pakistan's long-standing appreciation for cooperation with the regional bloc and desire to expand existing partnerships. He described ASEAN as a vital platform for promoting regional peace and stability, fostering economic cooperation, and enhancing mutual development. Malaysia's support for Pakistan's ASEAN aspirations gained public attention last October when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reportedly expressed full backing for Pakistan's bid to become a full dialogue partner. Malaysia's Mediation Offer and Responses Shah also addressed Malaysia's potential role in resolving regional conflicts. Following a deadly attack in Pahalgam, India, on 22 April that claimed 26 lives—mostly tourists—Anwar had offered Malaysia's assistance in de-escalating tensions. We appreciate Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in the highest regard as a peacemaker and advocate for peace. He is among the finest statesmen of this era, and we welcome his offer to mediate between India and Pakistan. The vision endures: A press photographer works beneath the portrait of Quaid-e-Azam (Great Leader) Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, displayed on the embassy walls, whose dream of international partnership continues to flourish. (Pix: Fernando Fong) The High Commissioner added that Anwar is highly respected in both countries and enjoys strong relationships with the leadership in both Pakistan and India. However, the mediation proposal faces challenges. Recently, Indian MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, visiting Malaysia as part of a parliamentary delegation, stated that the India-Pakistan conflict was High Commissioner Shah presents Pakistan's position on water rights disputes with India during the press conference at the Pakistani Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. (Pix: Fernando Fong) Responding to Delegation Visit Allegations Shah used the briefing to address recent allegations regarding his office's conduct toward the Indian parliamentary delegation's visit to Malaysia. He categorically denied claims that He pointed out that in today's contemporary diplomacy, it is unthinkable for a country or embassy to request that its host country not allow a delegation from another country. How can we have the audacity to ask a host country, which has its own policies that we respect, to disallow a delegation? This claim is, to say the least, laughable, ridiculous, and preposterous. All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, headed by Hon'ble MP Mr. Sanjay Kumar Jha, met with Parliamentary Special Committee on International Relations and International Trade, chaired by YB Wong Chen, Hon'ble Member of Parliament and Chairman of Parliamentary Special committee on… — India in Malaysia (@hcikl) Media Narratives and Diplomatic Responses The High Commissioner also addressed what he characterised as problematic media reporting patterns. He cited specific examples of coverage during recent regional conflicts. During the conflict between 7 and 10 May, Indian channels announced as breaking news that Pakistan had been occupied and that Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore were under Indian control. Such reports are not only false but preposterous and ridiculous. Building bridges through media: Pakistani diplomats and Malaysian press representatives gather at the Pakistan High Commission following a successful diplomatic outreach. (Pix: Pakistan High Commission Malaysia) Shah suggested that references to 'Islamic solidarity' in some reports were intended to create discord between Pakistan and Malaysia, though he did not elaborate on specific instances. The High Commissioner concluded by calling on India's High Commission in Malaysia, led by Ambassador BN Reddy, to clarify its position regarding the allegations about Pakistan's conduct toward the Indian delegation. The diplomatic exchange reflects ongoing complexities in South Asian regional relationships, with Malaysia positioned as both an ASEAN partner and potential mediator in broader regional discussions. FYI, both India and Pakistan have nuclear weapons 😰 — The Rakyat Post (@therakyatpost) READ MORE : Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
Borneo Post
6 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Sarawak champions clean energy vision at Energy Exports Conference 2025 in Scotland
(From left) Hazland, Muhammad Abdullah, Siti and Robert speaking during the EEC 2025 in Aberdeen, Scotland. – Photo from Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability KUCHING (June 9): Sarawak has reaffirmed its dedication to global partnerships and clean energy leadership at the Energy Exports Conference (EEC) 2025 in Aberdeen, Scotland, positioning itself as a key driver of a sustainable and resilient energy future for the region. According to a statement from Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability, during the conference, the state presented its green and blue economy agenda under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), which emphasises a balance between economic growth, social inclusion and environmental stewardship. Deputy State Secretary (Economic and Planning) Dato Sri Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel highlighted Sarawak's transparent and investor-friendly environment, reiterating the state's zero-tolerance stance on corruption. He invited international partners to collaborate on scaling clean energy solutions and advancing inclusive development. Sarawak Energy Berhad's senior vice president of Corporate Services Siti Aisah Adenan shared the company's long-term sustainability roadmap, which includes plans for cross-border grid integration to enable renewable energy exports and strengthen regional energy reliability. SEDC Energy chief executive officer Robert Hardin outlined ongoing collaborations with Japanese and South Korean partners to develop hydrogen and ammonia export capabilities. He said the Sarawak H2 Hub in Bintulu, developed with Gentari Sdn Bhd, will supply green hydrogen for industrial use and support Sarawak's ambition to become a commercial hydrogen producer by 2027. Earlier in the conference, Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni delivered a keynote during the Sarawak session on Opportunities in Borneo, highlighting the state's energy transition as being driven by strong policy frameworks, continued investment in innovation and close regional cooperation.
