KUALA LUMPUR – A DAP lawmaker has proposed doubling the government’s current allocation of RM100 million to the Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (Mitra).
When debating the 2024 Supply Bill, Cha Kee Chin (Rasah-PH) said this was to ensure that the Indian community is not left out in the midst of the nation’s development.
“Although Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) did not mention it, I was made to understand that RM100 million was still allocated to Mitra, to assist the Indian community to improve their social economy.
“I suggest, can we double this RM100 million (allocation) to RM200 million?”
“(This is) to ensure that the Indian community, especially those in the B40 bracket, are uplifted to a level that is in line with our country’s development,” he said in Dewan Rakyat today.
Cha added that he made a similar suggestion three years ago when Mitra was under the purview of the National Unity Ministry.
Last month, Mitra’s special vehicle committee chairman Datuk R. Ramanan said the unit has successfully utilised all the RM100 million it had received under Budget 2023.
This was the first time Mitra has managed to use up its allocation since its formation in 2016.
Cha also suggested the government research Japan’s agricultural procedures, so that Malaysia can emulate its strategies.
This was because Japan still had the capacity to supply more rice than its population needed, despite over half of their farmers being older than 60, he added.
Cha said Japan uses its surplus paddy for research and development, whether it could be a replacement for wheat – a major import there – in bread production.
As such, he said this could allow Malaysia to be more self-sufficient and avoid being in dire situations, should foreign countries decide to halt their rice exports for whatever reason. – October 19, 2023