‘Missing’ MITRA fund: Stop the endless mystery drama – MP

By Sharunya Raja

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9: Batu Gajah MP V. Sivakumar has called on for special session at the Parliament to clear the confusion on the funds allocated for Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (MITRA).

Sivakumar said this as he finds the National Unity Minister Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique’s explanation in Parliament on MITRA fund confusing.

“I am as an elected representative who always raise issues related to MITRA in the Dewan Rakyat feel very confused with the answer given by Halimah.

“I don’t want the people to see MITRA as an endless mystery drama.

“As a result, I propose that a briefing session should be held immediately in Parliament to address all of the concerns raised about the inherited debt that will be borne by MITRA.

“It is the responsibility of check and balance to ensure that MITRA funds earmarked for the socio-economic development of Indians are not misappropriated and used by any party,” he added.

“This is important because in 2020 and 2021 only RM114.1 million out of RM200 million has been used as new expenditure for the purpose of socio -economic development of Indians,” he said.

Halimah, during her wind-up session on the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) debate in Parliament on Wednesday, said MITRA only had RM65 million fund in 2020.

Halimah explained to the House that of the RM100mil allocated to Mitra in 2020, the unit only received RM65mil, as the balance was used to pay off the unit’s previous debts.