RM150 Mln MITRA Allocation To Boost Indian Community Development - Treasury Sec-Gen

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 12 (Bernama) -- The increase in the Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (MITRA) allocation from RM100 million to RM150 million under Budget 2027 is aimed at ensuring that its programmes benefit the Indian community, including through skills training for youths.

Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Johan Mahmood Merican said the government was paying particular attention to improving MITRA’s governance to ensure that its funds were channelled towards programmes benefiting the intended target groups.

He said the allocation for Tamil national-type schools had also been increased to RM50 million under Budget 2027.

“Support for the Indian community also includes RM100 million in funding through the Indian Community Entrepreneur Development Scheme (SPUMI) under TEKUN Nasional for next year, as well as RM50 million in microcredit loans under Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia for Indian women entrepreneurs.

“Training programmes under the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) are also available to enhance the community’s skills and economic opportunities,” he said during an online briefing on current issues related to Budget 2027 organised by the Information Department.

Johan said Budget 2027 also took into account the differing needs of each state and community, with programmes tailored to their respective circumstances, from grassroots initiatives to larger-scale efforts.

“For the Bumiputera community, the government will, among other measures, strengthen Yayasan Peneraju, increase the value of small contracts for G1 to G4 contractors from RM4 billion to RM7.4 billion, and provide more financing for Bumiputera contractors.

“For the Chinese community, attention will be given to increased allocations for Chinese national-type schools, trust accounts related to the Chinese community, and business financing for micro, small and medium enterprises,” he said.

Johan said the government was also focusing on gig economy workers, including e-hailing service providers, to help increase their income and strengthen their welfare and social protection.

He added that infrastructure and economic development in Sabah and Sarawak would continue according to the needs of each state to address gaps in basic amenities and support regional economic growth.

“In Sabah, priorities include road development and improvements to water and electricity supplies, while Sarawak is also focusing on infrastructure and industrial area development.

“Projects receiving attention include the Sabah-Sarawak Link Road (SSLR), as well as healthcare facilities and economic zone development,” he said.

Under Budget 2027, Sabah has been allocated RM18.7 billion, while Sarawak will receive RM16.2 billion.

Johan stressed that project implementation must take local priorities into account to ensure development expenditure benefits residents and economic activities in both states.

On Friday, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tabled Budget 2027, themed “Reaching for the Sky, Rooted in the Ground”, with government expenditure totalling RM459.8 billion, supplemented by RM25 billion in investments from government-linked investment companies (GLICs), RM11 billion in public-private investments, and RM14.2 billion in investments by Federal statutory bodies and Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc) companies.

This brings the total expansionary fiscal package under Budget 2027 to RM510 billion.

The Fifth MADANI Budget aims to translate resilient economic growth into tangible benefits for the people through better wages, more efficient targeted assistance, stronger fiscal discipline and accelerated efforts to develop higher-value industries.

-- BERNAMA