Umno supreme council member Bung Moktar Radin is puzzled over why Malaysians still donate to the Tabung Harapan (Hope Fund) set up to help alleviate the nation's debt.
This is particularly so when the Pakatan Harapan government asked the people for contribution when it has yet to fulfil its election manifesto pledges, Bung Moktar said.
"There are 10 to 20 countries with total debts exceeding US$1 trillion, with some of them reaching the US$2 trillion debt level. However, none of these countries asked it’s people to donate to a fund to pay the debt," he said in an interview with Malaysiakini last week.
Bung Moktar cited Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom and Italy as among the countries with debts exceeding the US$1 trillion threshold.
"Former Prime Minister Najib Razak faced the same debts problem but he worked to get something for the people and came with the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M)," he said.
"The new government asks the public for funding when it has yet to deliver its promises. But, the people are willing to contribute," he said.
"Why is this? I don't understand why the people are so different now," Bung Moktar said
"The people like them (the Pakatan Harapan government)? I don't know. Maybe the young generation wants the government and leaders that only know how to promise and not deliver.
"If this is what they want, then in the next general election, I will also promise something that I won't deliver," he joked.
This may open the floodgate to more empty promises being made by more party leaders and candidates in the next general election, Bung Moktar said.
He said the Tabung Harapan cannot be equated with the legal fund initiated to help Najib to pay for part of the RM1 million for his bail on July 9.
Najib's legal fund was contributed by Umno members and supporters who love and want to help the former prime minister, he explained.
Najib was charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust and one on abuse of power charge in relation to the RM42 million found in his account, purportedly from former 1MDB subsidiary SRC International Sdn Bhd.
On May 9, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced that Tabung Harapan was set up for Malaysians who wish to contribute to help the government to repay RM1 trillion debt.
Tabung Harapan had received RM7 million within 24 hours of setting up and exceeded RM108 million within one month.
As at July 14, the fund was getting close to RM150 million. -Mkini
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