MITRA will return under the Ministry of National Unity, the PM will still be monitoring
Named
December 23, 2023
The Malaysian Indian Society Transformation Unit (MITRA) under the supervision of the Prime Minister's Department (JPM) will be placed back under the Ministry of National Unity, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. - File photo/BERNAMA
The Malaysian Indian Society Transformation Unit (MITRA) under the supervision of the Prime Minister's Department (JPM) will be placed back under the Ministry of National Unity, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. - File photo/BERNAMA
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (MITRA) under the supervision of the Prime Minister's Department (JPM) will be placed back under the Ministry of National Unity, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
However, the Prime Minister assured that he will always monitor the special unit that is responsible for dealing with the issues of socioeconomic development of the Indian community in this country.
"As we know, MITRA also had problems at that time. So, a year ago, we (Unity Government) have corrected where the program is more transparent, not directed to political bodies but directly to the people, students and so on.
Because of that, the situation has improved, I can transfer to the Ministry of Unity but I will still monitor," he said at the Prime Minister's Dialogue Session with the Editor-in-Chief and Senior Editors of Electronic, Print and Online Media here today.
The Prime Minister also said that the Indian public need not worry about MITRA's administration being placed in different ministries because the rules have been set, allocations have been approved and the unit is still subject to strict conditions to prevent further abuse of power or abuse.
MITRA was originally known as a special unit of Socioeconomic Development of Indian Communities (SEDIC) which was established in 2014 before being rebranded as MITRA in 2018 and led by the Ministry of National Unity but in September 2022 it was transferred under the supervision of JPM.
Last Thursday, MITRA Special Committee Chairman Datuk R. Ramanan said the status of MITRA will either remain under the administration of JPM or otherwise will be announced by the Prime Minister.
Regarding today's dialogue session, Anwar said he touched on the diversity of current issues and government policies that are the headlines of media reports despite the problems of the people and the country that require the pen of media practitioners to outline them.
He said the main role played by media practitioners as recorders of the country's history cannot be denied at all despite facing various challenges, trials and tribulations in life.
"Media is not foreign in my life from the beginning as a politician until now as Prime Minister.
May media practitioners continue to be the government's eyes and ears in ensuring that the development agenda of the people and the country continues to be a priority," he said in a Facebook post tonight.
-- BERNAMA
