Kuala Lumpur:The Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit (MITRA) will see its allocation increase from RM100 million to RM150 million under Budget 2027 to ensure its programs effectively benefit the Indian community, particularly through youth skills training.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Treasury Secretary-General, Tan Sri Johan Mahmood Merican, emphasized the government's focus on improving MITRA's governance to ensure funds are directed toward programs that benefit their intended targets. Additionally, the allocation for Tamil national-type schools will be increased to RM50 million under the new budget.
Support for the Indian community will also include RM100 million in funding through the Indian Community Entrepreneur Development Scheme (SPUMI) under TEKUN Nasional next year, along with RM50 million in microcredit loans under Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia for Indian women entrepreneurs. Training programs from the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) are also available to enhance skills and economic opportunities for the community.
Johan highlighted that Budget 2027 considers the diverse needs of each state and community, with tailored programs ranging from grassroots initiatives to larger projects. Measures for the Bumiputera community include strengthening Yayasan Peneraju, increasing the value of small contracts for G1 to G4 contractors from RM4 billion to RM7.4 billion, and providing more financing for Bumiputera contractors. For the Chinese community, increased allocations will be provided for Chinese national-type schools, trust accounts, and business financing for micro, small, and medium enterprises.
The government also aims to support gig economy workers, including e-hailing service providers, to boost their income and improve their welfare and social protection. Infrastructure and economic development in Sabah and Sarawak will continue based on each state's needs, addressing basic amenities gaps and fostering regional economic growth. Sabah's priorities include road development and improvements to water and electricity supplies, while Sarawak will focus on infrastructure and industrial area development. Projects such as the Sabah-Sarawak Link Road (SSLR) and healthcare facilities will receive attention.
Under Budget 2027, Sabah has been allocated RM18.7 billion, and Sarawak will receive RM16.2 billion. Johan stressed the importance of considering local priorities to ensure development expenditures benefit residents and economic activities in both states.
On Friday, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim presented Budget 2027, themed 'Reaching for the Sky, Rooted in the Ground', with a government expenditure of RM459.8 billion, supplemented by RM25 billion from government-linked investment companies (GLICs), RM11 billion in public-private investments, and RM14.2 billion from Federal statutory bodies and Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc) companies. This brings the total fiscal package under Budget 2027 to RM510 billion. The Fifth MADANI Budget aims to translate resilient economic growth into tangible benefits for the people through better wages, efficient targeted assistance, stronger fiscal discipline, and accelerated development of higher-value industries.