A MALAYSIAN Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer will join the Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (Mitra) special task force committee to help monitor the management of its funds, committee chairman R. Ramanan said.

He said this was to ensure that the funds were fully utilised and distributed in a transparent manner for the development of the Indian community.

“I thank Tan Sri Azam Baki (MACC chief) because he has given us his officer who will also be present (during meetings) and will guide us to make sure no mismanagement (of funds) happens,” he told a press conference in Putrajaya today.

This move would ensure that every application to Mitra would be subjected to a clearer screening process, he said.

Ramanan said this when commenting on Azam’s statement on Tuesday that MACC investigations into the misappropriation of Mitra funds had been completed and those involved had been charged. Azam was reported to have made recommendations to strengthen Mitra’s management procedure.

In 2021, more than 300 companies and civil society groups were reported to have been investigated over alleged irregularities in grant allocations worth RM203 million issued by Mitra since 2019.

Mitra committee member R.S.N. Rayer, who was present at the press conference, said he was confident that perception towards Mitra would improve in the future.

“I also believe that under the leadership of the chairman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Mitra will achieve its objective of helping more people from the Indian community,” said Rayer, who is also Jelutong lawmaker.

Asked about Mitra’s plans for next year to improve the socio-economic status of Indians, Ramanan said they would focus more on education.

He said more than 10,000 students had received Mitra grants, with 7,000 getting aid totalling RM30.96 million this year. – Bernama, November 10, 2023.