KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 — The government’s “Tabung Harapan Malaysia (Malaysian Hope Fund)” is just to allow citizens to symbolically demonstrate their love for the country, said veteran writer Datuk A. Kadir Jasin.
However, he added that the move could snowball into something more significant if the ultra-wealthy choose to contribute generously.
"Therefore, it is not the amount of the donation, but a manifestation of love and patriotism towards the country," he wrote in a blog post yesterday.
"However, that fund can become big and effective if billionaires, millionaires, the rich and big corporations also contribute large amounts," he added.
Kadir thanked the public for volunteering to raise funds to help the Pakatan Harapan government pay down over RM1 trillion in debts and liabilities, adding that the new fund would help streamline such efforts.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the crowdfund was formed in response to Malaysians’ concern over the economic mismanagement by the former Barisan Nasional government, thanking them for their "patriotic move" to donate to the government.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng yesterday said all contributions would be systematically and transparently managed by the ministry through the trust fund.
He said only donations in ringgit will be accepted, and deposits may be made via a Malayan Banking account (A/C 566010626452) opened under the name Tabung Harapan Malaysia.
Today, Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin appeared to comment on the matter via his official Facebook account, saying there was no oddity in members of the public volunteering to help the government pay down its debts.
“It is a voluntary effort. Whoever wants to, may give; whoever doesn’t want to, can let it be.
“However, what is odd and extreme is that there are those who create debt that must be borne by the public forcibly and not voluntarily. It’s even more cruel when those who took the debt tolive lavishly, while the public that is bearing the debt live with burdens,” he added, without naming anyone.
