KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) has disbursed RM95,482,075 for the implementation of 11 programmes under the Malaysian Indian Community Socio-Economic Development Programme (PPSMI) from the RM100 million allocated for this year.
Mitra Special Task Force Committee chairman P. Prabakaran said all the programmes focused on efforts to empower the socio-economic status of the Indian community in Malaysia.
The programmes included RM1.5 million for GDL Licence Assistance, RM3.4 million for the EC-Council Cyber Security Professional Certificate Training and Placement, RM3.05 million for Stock Market Investment and Trading, and RM3 million for the Malaysia-China Youth TVET Training.
"Other programmes include the Malaysian Indian Skills Initiative (MISI) worth RM10 million, the Malaysian Indian Community Entrepreneurship Programme (RM12,326,400), the Private Kindergarten Early Education Subsidy (RM10 million), and the Early Admission Assistance Programme for IPT Mitra or IPT 4.0 Mitra (RM25 million).
"Additionally, RM8 million was allocated for the Mitra Dialysis Subsidy Assistance Programme, RM15.5 million for the Mitra Sinar Cahaya Assistance Programme, and RM3,705,675 for the Cyber Security Awareness Programme for Indian students," Prabakaran said during an engagement session on the PPSMI Grant today.
He noted that plans are underway to utilise the remaining RM4,517,925 and that Mitra hopes to receive RM300 million in allocations next year.
Regarding the engagement session, which was attended by more than 300 people, he said it provided an opportunity for stakeholders, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and related companies, to gather information and share insights with Mitra to further improve the socio-economic well-being of the Indian community.
Prabakaran added that applications for the Mitra grant will be open from Oct 15 to Nov 14.
Meanwhile, he announced the appointment of Sentosa Assemblyman Dr G. Gunarajah as Coordinator of the Selangor Mitra Special Task Force Committee and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Advisory Board member Jayakumaran R. Muniandy as Coordinator of the Kuala Lumpur Mitra Special Task Force Committee. – BERNAMA