Anwar says aid for Indian community goes beyond Mitra, more initiatives in pipeline

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim inspects preparations for the Deepavali celebrations and the distribution of food baskets to Indian recipients at the 2026 Deepavali Mega Bazaar in Brickfields November 4, 2026. — Bernama pic

First Published: Wednesday, 04 Nov 2026 7:14 PM MYT

Last Modified: Wednesday, 04 Nov 2026 7:39 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — Government assistance for the Indian community is not only channelled through the Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (Mitra), but also includes various initiatives in welfare, entrepreneurship, education and social development, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said such assistance was also provided through various government agencies and programmes, including the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) cash aid scheme, Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA), entrepreneurship financing through Tekun Nasional and Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, as well as allocations for the development of Tamil schools and places of worship.

“Sometimes, people think that the only assistance available for the Indian community is MITRA, whereas there are also STR, Amanah Ikhtiar, and Tekun (Nasional)... all of these are also part of the support we provide.

“Is this enough? Not yet. That I agree, but we are gradually increasing. We are discussing this constructively to introduce new initiatives where there were none before,” he said during a visit to the Brickfields Deepavali Mega Bazaar 2026 here today.

Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil. 

Anwar, also the Finance Minister, said Mitra’s annual allocation, which has stood at RM100 million since 2008, has been increased to RM150 million, which is a 50 per cent rise.

He said priority would be given to skills training programmes and employment opportunities for young members of the Indian community, particularly in industrial automation, technology and aircraft maintenance.

The government is also expanding financing facilities through Tekun Nasional and Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, with an additional RM150 million allocated to assist entrepreneurs from the Indian community.

In the education sector, Anwar said the allocation for repair and maintenance works at Tamil National-Type Schools (SJKT) had been increased to RM50 million, with priority given to dilapidated schools and those requiring urgent attention.

He said the government also planned to fully rebuild SJKT Ladang Pamol in Kluang, Johor, as well as establish six new SJKTs, including in Sungai Bakap, Penang and Klebang, Perak.

Meanwhile, the allocation for the maintenance and development of registered places of worship was also increased to RM80 million next year, compared with RM50 million annually since 2021.

“This form of assistance existed previously, but under the Madani Government, it has been increased in stages following discussions and assessments of the community’s needs,” Anwar added. — Bernama