Kelantan highway fund, another Tabung Memali?

KUALA LUMPUR: More doubts are raised on the Pas-led Kelantan Government's move to seek public donations to help revive its highway project, with bloggers wondering if it wil end up like the alleged misappropriated Tabung Memali.

A blog post in The Unspinners accused Pas of misappropriating the Memali fund that the party embarked upon more than two decades ago and questioned whether a similar fate is in store with the present public donation drive for the for the Kuala Krai-Kota Baru highway.

Another blog post in RBF online also expressed similar sentiments, wondering if the misappropriation of the Memali funds will repeat itself over the construction of the 73-kilometre highway fund.

The blogger stated it was shameful for the Pas-led state government to ask money from the public.

Blogger Syed Akbar Ali of Out Syed The Box, said: “The Tabung Memali fund was set up by Pas to collect donations for the widows and orphaned children of the martyrs of Memali.”

Below is extracts of what was blogged and picked up by Berita Minggu under the heading ‘Jin Toyol Dalam Tabung Memali.’

"A fund known as the Memali Fund was set up to collect donation for the next-of-kin of Ibrahim Libya and those who died during the Memali Incident. Pas through Harakah had urged generous donations to the fund to help the families of Ibrahim and his men whom the party declared as martyrs. A Pas member lodged a police report against alleged misappropriation. This led to a public outcry and prompted Pas president Fadzil Noor to investigate."

Syed in his blog said, “The results of the investigations confirmed that there was no wrong doing by Pas, they are angels remember, they can do no sin.”

“Anyway the widows and orphans of Memali are still poor. They never received a cent from the Tabung Memali.”

Contacted by The Mole, a state government’s spokesman said its public fund collections for the construction of the RM1.7 billion highway had nothing to do with the Tabung Memali fund misappropriation.

Mohd Najib Abdullah said, “The public donation is not the base for the highway construction, the state government has the money to build the highway.’’

Asked why the need for the public to donate when the state government claims to have funds to build the highway, Najib who is special officer to Datuk Husam Musa (State exco for economic affairs) said:

“As far as I am aware, the Kelantan state government is merely asking for donations as a way to include public participation over the highway construction.”

He also stated the money collected from the fund had nothing to do with Pas rather it was the state’s initiative as permission had been given by Bank Islam for the state government to proceed in acquiring funds from the public.

Prior to this, Husam said the state government welcomes public funds adding it will reduce the cost of constructing the highway that comes with nine flyovers and two rest areas.

The Kampung Memali tragedy occurred on November 18, 1985 in Baling, Kedah.

Source: MOLE