PETALING JAYA: P. Prabakaran, the Batu MP, has been selected as the new chairman of the Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (Mitra) Special Committee under the Prime Minister’s Department.
Prabakaran will take over the position from Datuk R Ramanan, who had been in the role since April of the previous year.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Prabakaran’s appointment will be effective immediately.
“The appointment is to replace Ramanan who is currently carrying out his duties as the Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister,” it said in a statement on Wednesday (Feb 7).
The Prime Minister’s Office also expressed hope that Prabakaran’s appointment will ensure Mitra continues to fulfill its responsibilities in enhancing the status and socio-economic situation of the Indian community.
Ramanan was named as Deputy Minister in December as part of a Cabinet reshuffle, which resulted in an increase in the number of ministers from 28 to 31, and in deputy ministers from 27 to 29.
Last December, Ramanan stated that Mitra had accomplished 100% of its targets for the year.
He also mentioned that Mitra had successfully rehabilitated its reputation, moving past allegations of financial mismanagement, as evidenced by an official “low risk” rating from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for the previous year.
In 2022, Mitra faced an MACC investigation for suspected misuse of funds from 2019 to 2021.
Prior to 2018, the organization was known as the Socioeconomic Development of the Indian Community Unit (Sedic) before being renamed Mitra in 2018.
Mitra was originally under the National Unity Ministry but was transferred to the Prime Minister’s Department’s oversight in September 2022.
Then, in December, Mitra was moved back under the National Unity Ministry’s purview.
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