14/05/2026
*Accountability Must Accompany MITRA Allocations*
I welcome the recent announcement by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim regarding the additional RM50 million allocation for the Indian community through MITRA. Any sincere effort by the Madani Government to uplift the socioeconomic standing of the Indian community deserves recognition and support.
However, as elected representatives and responsible leaders, we also have a duty to ask important questions, not to sabotage government initiatives, but to ensure that public funds genuinely benefit the people they are meant for.
It has now become clear that several initiatives recently announced under the “Dharma Madani” banner, including student assistance and laptop distribution programs, are actually continuations of last year’s initiatives funded under the previous RM100 million allocation. If that is the case, then the public has every right to know:
• What exactly will the newly announced RM50 million be used for?
• What are the specific programs planned under this year’s allocation?
• What is the implementation timeline?
• When will the benefits reach the rakyat, especially since we are already in the middle of the year?
Transparency and accountability are essential if we truly want the Indian community to progress in a meaningful and sustainable manner.
We must also learn from past shortcomings. Last year, I openly criticised in Parliament the distribution of second hand or refurbished laptops to students under MITRA related initiatives. Unfortunately, the explanations provided were not satisfactory. When we speak about bridging the digital divide and empowering our students, they deserve quality support that genuinely helps them compete and succeed.
Similarly, allocations should not be channelled into questionable programs that produce little or no visible outcome. For example, programs such as helicopter training initiatives were heavily publicised, yet until today the public has not seen clear results, impact reports, or measurable success stories from such expensive undertakings.
MITRA allocations must be utilised strategically for programs that can truly uplift and transform the Indian community, particularly in education, entrepreneurship, technical skills, digital economy participation, youth empowerment, women development, and long term socioeconomic mobility.
These funds should never become tools merely for publicity, political popularity, or short term vote catching exercises.
Supporting the government does not mean we must close one eye when weaknesses or mistakes occur. In a healthy democracy, constructive criticism is not betrayal. It is responsibility.
As leaders within the government ecosystem, we must have the courage to both support good initiatives and point out areas that require improvement. Only then can policies become stronger, implementation become cleaner, and public trust become deeper.
Our goal should not merely be to announce allocations. Our goal must be to ensure every ringgit reaches the people effectively and creates real transformation within the community.
That is the responsibility we owe the rakyat.
YB Ganabatirau Veraman
MP for Klang
