PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra), currently under the National Unity Ministry, will return to the Prime Minister’s Department.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, who is also the unity government spokesman, said the matter was agreed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang at the Cabinet meeting yesterday.
“The Cabinet decided to return Mitra to the PM’s Department. (On the) details on the enforcement and effective date, (you) can refer to Mitra,” he told a press conference here.
On its new direction, Fahmi said it would also be announced by Mitra, reported Bernama.
“Of course, with the return of Mitra to the PM’s Department, it will be given specific focus areas to ensure that not only will it be managed well, but also to achieve its objectives – or perhaps even expanded,” he added.
Mitra, originally known as the Socioeconomic Development of the Indian Community (Sedic), was established in 2014 before being renamed Mitra in 2018 and placed under the National Unity Ministry.
In September 2022, Mitra was placed within the purview of the PM’s Department.
In December 2023, Mitra was once again relocated to the Unity Ministry.
In February this year, Batu MP P. Prabakaran was appointed the chairman of the Mitra special task force committee, replacing Datuk R. Ramanan.
On March 27, Ramanan called for Mitra to be placed back under the PM’s Department after taking into account the views of various parties, especially the Indian community, who believe that unit, as an asset and arm of the community, was “more comfortable” being within the Prime Minister’s purview.
Ramanan, who is also serving as the Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister, said the call was also made because the infrastructure and resources under the PM’s Department are more advanced compared with other ministries, thus allowing for more efficient management of the special unit.
