A DAP MP has slammed the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) for failing to deliver aid to the Indian community at the grassroots, blaming frequent leadership changes, bureaucracy and the lack of long-term planning.
V Ganabatirau (PH-Klang) said funds often did not reach those most in need, while some ministries treated Mitra as an “emergency fund” rather than a proper development agency.
“What is more worrying is the mentality of some ministries and government agencies, which seem to consider Mitra as an emergency fund to solve every problem faced by the Indian community,” he said in debating the 13th Malaysia Plan in the Dewan Rakyat.
Ganabatirau said Mitra could become more effective if it was restructured with parliamentary oversight or converted into a proper statutory body, with yearly audits and clear targets set in the areas of education, skills and social aid.
The former Selangor executive councillor said he had submitted complaints about Mitra’s poor management to the prime minister, but no action was taken.
He also claimed that he was removed as a member of Mitra’s special committee because he was outspoken about the unit’s issues.
“I want to state here that I was removed because I spoke out.”
The DAP man was made a member of Mitra’s special committee in April 2023, when Sungai Buloh MP R Ramanan was appointed as its chairman.
Ganabatirau told FMT he was removed from the committee in the middle of 2023.
PKR‘s Batu MP P Prabakaran took over as Mitra chairman in February 2024.
Currently, the Mitra special committee has only two other members, namely DAP’s RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) and PKR‘s R Yuneswaran (PH-Segamat).
