1Malaysia NGO gives RM2mil to journo, welfare groups

Three journalist organisations get RM50,000 each while another 103 NGOs are given between RM5,000 to RM50,000 at a dinner attended by party boy and billionaire Low Taek Jho, who is widely known as Jho Low.

A total of RM2.2 million in donations were given out to the 106 NGOs in the event last night by pro-BN 1Malaysia-Penang Welfare Club.

About 5,000 people attended the sit-down dinner, organised by the Zhou Jia Quan Martial Arts Association at the Han Chiang College field.

Among the VIPs in the crowd were the association's president and Komtar BN coordinator Loh Chye Teik, flamboyant young tycoon Low, and 1Malaysia-Penang Welfare Club president Geh Choh Hun.

The event organiser, Zhou Jia Quan, and three media associations - Penang Press Club, Penang Journalists and Photographers Association (Pewaju) and Journalists Union of North Malaya - received RM50,000 each. Another two organisations received RM20,000 and the rest got RM5,000 each.

While the NGOs, including many from the martial arts, football, welfare, special education, infirm and aged associations, were handed their cheques, the 1Malaysia theme song was playing softly in the background.

The little known 1Malaysia-Penang Welfare Club has emerged recently to organise a free dinner in the Bagan parliamentary constituency on mainland Penang for potential BN candidate Tay Lay Cheng.

Asked if he was one of the donors, Low said "no" and added when asked about his presence, "I am only a guest at this event."

He was also pressed on reports of his sponsorship of a major concert in Penang on April 20 which will feature Canadian teen sensation Justin Bieber and other big names, but Low declined to comment.

Lifelong partnership

Geh, in his speech to kick off the dinner, told the NGOs that his club intended to have a long-lasting partnership with them.

"There are greater things to come; this is a lifelong relationship. We hope you feel the same. We will grow together and your contributions will also grow," he said.

Geh then called on the crowd to support the "journey of 1Malaysia", urging everyone to reject those who try to divide the people.

"We must reject those who divide us and bring us pain and suffering. It is very disturbing and unacceptable. There was a welfare event where someone tried to take the credit and tarnished our name," he said.

"We hope if you see such things, you will report such defamatory actions to us," he added, without elaborating.

Later while speaking to reporters, Geh said his club started operating in June last year and would be a holding a press conference to tell journalists more about the organisation.

Geh stressed that the donors for the event "came from all over the country".

'No comment' on Jho Low

Asked if Jho Low was part of the donors in the RM2.2 million welfare aid, Geh said, "I do not want to comment. We will explain more at our press briefing next week."

Those at Jho Low's table pressed him to make a speech as well, but he declined.

It is learnt that several journalists were taken aback by the donations to the press associations.

Pewaju president Kelvin Chua said his association received the money from the 1Malaysia Club to set up an education fund.

"We received the money and while we are answerable and responsible to our members, the money will not influence the way our members report news, nor who our members wish to support," Chua toldMalaysiakini.

"There is no conflict of interest. Many, including property developers, will be donating to us. So we welcome donations as long as these are unconditional," he added.

Jho Low, 30, who is known to be a big spender and often hobnobs with international celebrities, attended the function wearing the blue 1Malaysia T-shirt.

By about 10.30pm, a quarter of the crowd had left, leaving many tables empty.