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MBC: Santhara must give explanation on MITRA

MBC: Santhara must give explanation on MITRA

SUNGAI BULOH: The Perikatan Nasional (PN) government urged not to abandon Pakatan Harapan (PH) government’s initiative, to upgrade the Indian community through the Malaysian India Transformation Unit (MITRA).

Deputy Minister of Territories, Datuk Seri Santhara Kumar, who is also Segamat Member of Parliament, urged to come forward to clarify the status of MITRA to the Indian community as the program is an initiative of PH.

According to Minority Business Chamber-MBC Secretary-General, Mohd Zulkifli Abdul Fattah, in a press statement on Friday, MITRA has the potential to rid the Indian community from poverty, reduce unemployment and crime among the Indian youth through their programs.

“Unfortunately, the collapse of the PH government has suddenly raised questions among the Indian community about MITRA. The Perikatan National government has yet to provide clear information on the fund status and the ministry responsible for managing MITRA. This has led to some confusion among MITRA funding registrants for 2020,” he said.

MBC urge Santhara to provide clarification on the status of MITRA to the Indian community as the program is an initiative of PH government.

“As one of the two Indian ministers in the government of the Perikatan National, Santhara should not remain silent and must take responsibility for this mistake. It is not fair to blame this issue on the MIC as they have not been involved in the previous government,” said Zulkifli.

He added that PH government fall was due to the actions of several MPs from PH including Santhara, who had left the government bloc and joined PN.

The PN government,with only two Indian MPs in the bloc, makes the Indian community to wonder about their future.

“MBC does not intend to question Santhara’s motive on withdrawing from PH. However, he needs to take the role of leader and take action to change people’s perception”.

“It must be acknowledged that the two MPs mentioned did not have the rights to represent the Indian community, as both of them have yet to prove their support to the Indian community.

“Among them, Santhara Kumar needs to take more responsibility than Datuk Seri M Saravanan as he is a former member of the government who was appointed through a democratic process,” said Zulkifli.

He also added that MBC hope Santhara would rise, starts to speak, and begin to prove to the Indian community that their voices and groan are still being heard and all sort of actions will be taken as soon as possible to improve their economic and social status.

“Explaining the status of MITRA can be a good start. The Indian community in Malaysia needs attention,” said Zulkifli.

By S Jeevita