MIC leaders query Umno over 'missing' funds

Batu MIC leaders are questioning Umno over missing cash aid meant for needy Indian Malaysian voters in the constituency during Deepavali.

They complained that out of 207 applications they submitted, only 70 had received the RM100 cash aid, which is half of the promised sum of RM200.

Another 43 applications were rejected because the applicants were not voters.

“When we found out, we were taken aback because we realised something was wrong,” The Star quotes Batu MIC division chairperson Ramanathan Chinnu as saying yesterday.

The aid was given by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry through a BN coordinator to hand out the forms and cash to component parties.

All BN coordinators in opposition-held constituencies are allocated RM2 million each to be distributed to the poor.

“Everybody thinks MIC is behind the disappearance of the money as we handed out the forms with our stamp,” the local MIC Youth chief, DR Pala Kumaran, said.

When contacted by the daily, BN coordinator Yahaya Mat Ghani said there would be a second round of payments, and that the funds must be given out by Dec 31.

“So far we have disbursed a total of RM1.6 million to about 8,000 people in Batu through the respective component parties of Umno, MCA, MIC, PPP and Gerakan,” Yahaya said.