The whole world’s attention is on the Middle East. Millions of people around the globe have and continue to express disgust and anger at the violence in Gaza.
Malaysia, which has always supported the Palestinian cause, is no exception but social media has given netizens room to vent their fury on the warring parties.
But while the debate continues, two issues affecting our close relationship with Palestine have surfaced. One is the purported threat made by the Israelis that they would eliminate supporters of Hamas in certain countries including Malaysia. The other is the claim by the Palestinian ambassador that funds raised have not reached his people.
Both issues matter to everyone as it affects the sovereignty, integrity, and, above all, the trustworthiness and honesty of our government and its systems.
In April 2018, a Palestinian professor was killed in a drive-by shooting in Kuala Lumpur. Fadi Mohammed al-Batsh was shot at close range by two men believed to be Caucasians who also have ties to a foreign intelligence service.
Then deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was quoted by Bernama as saying that the victim had links to a foreign intelligence organisation and was active in pro-Palestinian non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
At that time, Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCare) chairperson Dr Hafidzi Mohd Noor said: “Palestinians in Malaysia take this country as their own, one that is unlike their own homeland as here they believe they are safe. We believe that our police, with their expertise and capabilities, will be able to expose what happened.”
Three years later, the culprits have neither been identified nor arrested. Hopefully, our police force will do the needful to prevent a repeat.
The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) World Giving Index 10th Edition report puts Malaysia in 24th place worldwide for being extremely charitable. However, Malaysians do not keep track of their donations and if they had reached the intended recipients.
Three months ago, the Palestinian ambassador to Malaysia Walid Abu Ali lectured Malaysians on fundraising after dropping a bombshell - money raised by Malaysian NGOs has failed to reach the Al Aqsa Mosque fund for years.
The New Straits Times report which surfaced on social media last week quoted him as asking where the money disappeared to and remarked that Malaysians should know the truth and ask where their donations to help the Palestinians had gone to.
Perhaps, it has taken a foreign diplomat to start a debate on the financial affairs of NGOs, many of whom do not disclose their sources of income and how the money is spent.
Walid did not stop at that but also gave more details of the supposed deceit.
Some money went missing, he said, when people in fundraising efforts took their share to cover their cost, which sometimes came up to 40 percent, despite knowing all should be channelled to the mosque.
Although the Societies Act requires registered societies to file annual returns including annual reports and annual financial reports, it is said that in many cases, key officials park donations in a separate account away from the prying eyes of other officials and members.
To complicate the issue, for ease of operation, many are registered as businesses and there is no supervision except the annual returns to the Companies Commission of Malaysia.
On Thursday, the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to the Middle East Abdul Hadi Awang said over 40 NGOs have joined the government to form the #Aid4Palestine secretariat, which aims to raise RM1 million that will be channelled to Palestine.
They agreed to form the #Aid4Palestine secretariat, which will be chaired by his son, Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi.
No disrespect to both, but Malaysia and Malaysians should not be subject to the same accusations with this initiative and the appointment.
Aggravating the situation, PAS central committee member Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz suggested people donating to the relief efforts in Palestine should not ask difficult questions about whether the money reaches its destination.
While some are selling their cars and treasures to raise funds, many will be reluctant to contribute fearing a repeat with such statements which suggest that the transactions will be opaque.
We learnt some valuable lessons in managing and handling the funds from The Sun’s Tsunami Relief Fund in 2004. Because other newspapers collected millions for the cause in Malaysia, it decided to address the rehabilitation process in Acheh and Northern Sri Lanka where over 60,000 died.
No cash was given out and initially, essentials like food and water were donated. Later, we embarked on getting back the people on their feet. X-ray machines were bought for the local hospital, fishing nets were delivered to coastal fishermen who had lost everything, cement and steel bars were sent to rebuild an orphanage, resin and other chemicals were sent to make fibreglass boats, and much more.
In between, there was a request from a minister’s aide who had strong links with Acheh for RM30,000 to buy 1,000 pieces of blankets. This was rejected and an offer to get the blankets (at RM14 each) was spurned.
A plan and an artist’s impression were sent to us by the same minister seeking funding to build a residential school complete with a swimming pool for RM4 million. This too was rejected.
A complete set of accounts of the fund was published in the company’s annual report in 2006.
When dealing with public funds, it is mandatory for complete transparency in the use of the money. But because of the blockade in Gaza, it may not be possible to operate in the same manner.
Hence in the case of Hadi’s plans, it is best to ask any bank to operate a trust fund making, among others, the Palestinian ambassador as one of the trustees.
He can keep track of the receipts and payments and put an end to doubts and misgivings on the use of the money.
Is that asking too much in managing the funds or for a father-son enterprise to carry out the same undertaking? - Mkini
R NADESWARAN hopes there will be no repeat of both – killings and accusations of money not reaching the recipients. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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