The unit was previously under the jurisdiction of the national unity ministry.

“As requested by MIC president SA Vigneswaran, I would like to announce that Mitra is now placed under the administration of the Prime Minister’s Department.

“I have also approved the establishment of Yayasan Mitra to look after the welfare of the Indian community in this country,” he said today at the launch of the MIC Brigade, the party’s youth-based initiative.

He also provided assurances that the Indian community will not be left behind in development.

He said the government had approved various allocations and initiatives for the community. “This includes RM100 million under Mitra for anti-poverty and social development efforts. We also gave RM25 million for Indian community entrepreneurship development programmes,” he said.

The Cabinet had also approved the establishment of a Cabinet committee on Indian community socioeconomic development that will be chaired by him.

Ismail also announced a RM2 million special allocation for Indian students from the hardcore poor group.

Mitra’s move from the unity ministry to the PM’s Department was at the request of the MIC. Vigneswaran had said the unit should be moved, to ensure effective implementation of programmes for the Indian community.

Last year, Mitra was investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission over allegations of misappropriation of funds from 2019 to 2021.

The scandal placed MIC under pressure from Pakatan Harapan leaders, who constantly grilled the party on the matter during Dewan Rakyat sittings.

Last week, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim called for forensic audits to be done on Mitra as well as on the party’s education arm, the Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED) and the party’s investment company Maika Holdings.

He claimed government funds meant for the Indian community had been misappropriated by these three organisations.