Question mark over Najib’s donation to Sri Lankan Tamils
If the Tamil Forum Malaysia members can openly and frankly divulge the information about the status of the donation then there is a possibility the matter could be brought to a close.
P Ramasamy, Free Malaysia Today
In 2012 the government of Najib Razak was quite generous in giving out donations to many NGOs in the country including the Indian ones.
Whether this generosity had anything to do with the 1MDB funds amounting to RM2.6 billion that he received in his private accounts is yet to be established. However some reliable sources indicate that it was quite likely that donations to NGOs and other organisations could have been derived from the funds received in Najib’s private accounts.
In 2012 the government through the MIC donated US$1 million to Tamil Forum Malaysia. The money was meant to assist Tamils in Sri Lanka who have been terribly affected by years of the civil war that ended in May 2009.
A few days ago, Ananthy Sasitharan, an elected representative of Sri Lanka’s Northern Provincial Council, raised some questions about the donation.
First, whether the donation to Tamil Forum Malaysia was properly channelled to those affected by the war. Second, who were the beneficiaries and whether Tamil Forum Malaysia could provide the necessary information. Third, when were the funds distributed in Sri Lanka and who acted on behalf of Tamil Forum Malaysia.
Sasitharan is upset that the leaders of the foundation, considered as professionals, did not even bother to consult the elected Tamil representatives in the distribution of funds from the Malaysian government for a noble cause.
The matter apparently has been reported to the Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council, Wigneswaran. He, in turn, has promised to raise the matter with the Sri Lankan government to make representation to Malaysia.
US$1 million or RM4.2 million might not constitute a major donation. However considering the tragic plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka such a donation might make a significant difference.
This is the main reason that elected Tamil representatives in the north are upset or frustrated. When one of the foundation representatives remarked that they owed no explanation to Sasitharan about the disbursement of the money, matters have been escalated to no purpose.
If Tamil Forum Malaysia members can openly and frankly divulge the information about the status of the donation then there is a possibility the matter could be brought to a close.
However if the whole matter is shrouded in secrecy then the controversy might be around for some time with unforeseen implications.
If the Sri Lankan government takes up the matter, then the MIC, which handed over the donation, has to answer. The fact that the donation might have been derived from 1MDB funds might complicate matters.
Sasitharan’s husband was abducted by the Sri Lankan security forces in 2009. He is feared to have been killed by the security forces.
In a press release from Jaffna yesterday, Sasitharan remarked that the Tamil people would not have been taken for ride if the LTTE’s supremo was still around.
P Ramasamy is Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang.
