I HAVE always maintained that the unity government’s allocation to the Indian community of RM100 mil through the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (MITRA) is nothing but peanuts.
It is just a drop in the ocean. To make matters worse, the government has allocated RM7.2 mil to 72 government MPs, in parliamentary constituencies with sizeable Indian presence.
The MPs in these constituencies are supposed to allocate RM100,000 to fund the B40 group in the Indian community. This is on top of the RM3 mil funds given by the government for their MPs.
The question is simple and straightforward: why is the government ‘seizing’ funds from MITRA to allocate to the 72 parliamentary constituencies. As it is, the RM100 mil fund allocation is nothing to proud of.
Why the further depletion of funds by withdrawals from MITRA? If the RM3 million fund allocation is not enough, the government could easily increase the funding.
There is no necessity to touch the allocation to MITRA. At the moment, it is not clear how the additional RM100,000 funds are being spent by the MPs in the 72 constituencies.
However, it has come to my attention that one senior MP bought bicycles for children to be distributed to B40 children in his constituency. There are so many ways to assist the poor and needy Indians but surely buying bicycles for children is definitely not the effective way.

The RM100,000 funds could have been allocated for scholarships and financial assistance for Indians to start small businesses. Is buying bicycles for children a top priority for the Indian poor?
Are Indians taken as fools?
Former DAP Sabai state assemblywoman, Kamache Doraraj raised the question as to why the 72 MPs should be allocated RM100,000 each from MITRA funds. This was a pertinent and relevant question but a police report was lodged against her.
I don’t understand the motive of the Madani government to dig into MITRA funds to be allocated to the 72 MPs. Why further dilute the meagre funds allocated to MITRA?
To date, Indian MPs and state assemblypersons have been rather tight-lipped about the allocation of MITRA funds to MPs. Why is this so?
An MP who is rather vociferous when it comes to the blind defence of the government seems to be quiet as a mouse?
So, what is happening? Are Indians made fools by the Madani government? Whatever happened to the committee that is administering MITRA funds? Isn’t there a protest against the government for “robbing” MITRA?
The Madani government headed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is no better than the earlier administrations. In fact, it is much worse when it comes to the assistance of the Indian community. Indians are being taken for ride.
The popular Tamil saying “Perumal went begging but whatever he obtained was stolen by the Hanuman (monkey)” might be appropriate to MITRA. – Dec 11, 2023
Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the Urimai (United Rights of Malaysian Party) Interim Council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.