RM400, 000 for a dinner that was attended by Anwar Ibrahim and rich tycoons

(Kuala Lumpur Post) - A whopping RM400,000 for a fund-raising gala dinner? According to blogger Yuseri Yusoff, that was the amount spent on Malam Gala Keadilan 2012, a PKR fund-raising dinner which was held in May.

The blogger has also attached a formal letter sent by PKR’s president Datuk Sri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to the event organising chairman Datuk Dr Tan Tee Kwong, seeking clarification and financial details.

“RM400, 000 for a dinner that was attended by PKR top leadership and rich tycoons, is that not a big waste?

“Its an irony as they (PKR) have always been accusing Barisan Nasional (BN) for being lavish and for wasting people’s money, but now they are the ones doing it. Where did the money come from…from Anwar (PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim)’s salary of RM1 per month as Selangor’s economic advisor? the blogger questioned.

Meanwhile, Anwar, as reported in a pro-opposition blog Merah Tinta MSO, had praised the organisers for the event.

The blogger said that Anwar, in his fiery opening speech, had slammed the BN-led federal government and federal institutions. He had also singled out the Royal Malaysian Police force for allegedly not handling the Bersih rallies accordingly.

Another blog, Gelagat Anwar, pointed out that the fund-raising dinner was meant to raise sympathy from the people and also to boost up Anwar’s declining popularity.

PKR vice-president Tian Chua, when contacted, claimed that the fund raising dinner was successfull due to the high turn-out.

Asked about the details of the expenditure, Tian Chua kept it short: “All the fund raised were from private firms and individuals. The difference nowadays is that many big corporate players are willing to support us”.

Other top PKR leaders refused to comment on the matter.