6 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Anwar to announce new Mitra initiatives in Dewan Rakyat tomorrow
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will announce several new initiatives under the Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (Mitra) during the Prime Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat tomorrow.
Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan said the Madani government would adopt a new, more strategic and effective approach in formulating initiatives and programmes under Mitra.
"The Prime Minister will announce several new initiatives under Mitra tomorrow in this House.
"I am confident these new initiatives will have a greater impact on the socio-economic development of the Indian community, ensuring that the community continues to be supported and benefits from the nation's development," he said in the ministry's winding up-speech for the 13th Malaysia Plan in the Dewan Rakyat.
Ramanan said the Prime Minister has approved the implementation of 19 high-impact programmes under the Indian Community Socioeconomic Development Programme (PPSMI), with a total allocation of RM22.27 million for this year.
He said these programmes focus on three key areas of community development including education and training, spirituality and culture and social wellbeing.
"At the same time, there are also several applications that could not be approved, including those related to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes, as they overlapped with and fell under the jurisdiction and management of the National TVET Council," he said.
Ramanan said since the Madani government took over Mitra in 2023, the agency successfully spent the full RM100 million allocation, covering 221 initiatives, which benefited 134,510 members of the Indian community through Mitra programmes.
"For 2024, Mitra spent RM98.9 million across 13 programmes, with an estimated 122,082 beneficiaries from various age groups within the Indian community.
"In total, Mitra programmes in 2023 and 2024 have benefited 256,592 members of the Indian community," he said.
