Mitra’s RM5m funding for temple construction questioned

Parti Negara has urged the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) to justify its decision to allocate RM5 million for the construction of a Hindu temple in Putrajaya.

According to party vice-president S Gobi Krishnan, such funding should not come from Mitra, which is under the purview of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P Waythamoorthy.

“How can an RM5 million allocation for the construction of a temple empower the economy of the Indian community? 

"Is temple allocations part of Mitra’s policy? If so, why aren’t other temples getting it (allocations)?" he asked when contacted by Malaysiakini.

Gobi Krishnan further claimed that Mitra had promised to accord the same temple another RM5 million under next year's allocation, bringing the total to RM10 million for its construction.

“I am not objecting to the government allocating (funds) to places of worship. However, it needs to come from special or additional funds. Not from Mitra,” he added.

As Gobi Krishnan claimed, this makes Mitra no different from the Socio-Economic Development of the Indian Community Unit (Sedic) – as Mitra was previously known – under the BN administration.

“Previously, we criticised Sedic allocations as not transparent and biased. Now, Mitra is doing the same thing,” he said, while questioning its decision not to reveal the RM5 million allocation on its website.

Meanwhile, Gobi Krishnan further alleged that a DAP leader was using his or her position as an assemblyperson to obtain an allocation from Mitra for an NGO run by his or her spouse.

The NGO allegedly obtained up to RM101,800 in Mitra funding.

“I have proof that the assemblyperson took his or her spouse to meet with Mitra officials for the allocation,” he claimed.

Malaysiakini has contacted Mitra, which responded that it would issue a press statement on both matters in the near future.

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