PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced that the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) will be moved back to the National Unity Ministry from the Prime Minister’s Department, but assured that he will continue to oversee the unit’s efforts to address the socio-economic development issues of the Indian community in Malaysia.
Addressing the concerns about the placement of Mitra under a different ministry, the Prime Minister emphasized that regulations have been established, allocations approved, and the unit is still subject to stringent conditions to prevent any abuse of power or misconduct.
“As we know, Mitra had problems back then (2017). So, a year ago, we (the unity government) fixed it, where the programmes are more transparent and do not go to a political outfit (but) go right to the people, students, and so on.”
“Therefore, the situation has improved; I can transfer it to the Unity Ministry, but I still monitor it,” he said at a dialogue session with editors-in-chief and senior editors of the electronic, print and online media on Saturday.
The Socioeconomic Development of the Indian Community Unit (Sedic) was renamed Mitra in 2018 and was initially under the National Unity Ministry but was transferred to the oversight of the Prime Minister’s Department in September 2022.
Last Thursday, Mitra Special Committee chairman Datuk R. Ramanan said that the Prime Minister would announce the status of Mitra, whether it stays under the administration of the Prime Minister’s Department or otherwise.
Anwar also discussed the diversity of current issues and government policies at the dialogue session. He highlighted the role played by media practitioners as the recorder of the nation’s history despite facing various challenges and life’s difficulties.
“(The) Media is not a stranger in my life from the beginning as a politician until now as the Prime Minister. May media practitioners continue to be the eyes and ears of the government in ensuring that the people’s and the nation’s development agenda remains a priority,” he said in a Facebook post tonight. – Bernama
