PARLIAMENT must debate how millions in Malaysian Indian Transformational Unit (Mitra) funds went missing, Jelutong MP RSN Rayer said today.

He said by denying his motion to debate the matter, Parliament was giving the impression that it was protecting MIC leaders implicated in the case.

“I have asked why MIC leaders have not been arrested or questioned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the speaker told me that my motion has been rejected.

“Out there, these MIC leaders are cheering as if the Dewan Rakyat is protecting them,” he said during the debate on the supply bill 2022 in the Dewan Rakyat.

He said it was important that the matter be debated as the missing funds involved leaders who have been embroiled in corruption for years.

“Don’t ask me to appeal again and again, I am willing to wait to discuss the issue of this Mitra fund, the socio-economic money of the Indians pocketed by MIC leaders,” he added.

Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Rashid Hasnon told Rayer to put in a request in writing.

Last month, the MACC arrested 16 company directors over alleged misappropriation of funds from Mitra.

The Mitra fund was created by former prime minister Najib Razak to provide socio-economic programmes for the Indian community.

It was then called Socio-economic Development of Indian Community (Sedic) but was rebranded to Mitra by the Pakatan Harapan government. – November 11, 2021.