The Malaysian Insight

SOCIAL media users on Twitter are discouraging others from donating to Putrajaya’s Keluarga Malaysia Flood Relief Fund and to contribute directly to civil society groups working on the ground instead.

The fund, launched by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun yesterday, is receiving heavy criticism, especially because an event was held to unveil it, as thousands of flood victims remain in evacuation centres with many others stranded and properties destroyed.

On Twitter, Malaysians warned each other against contributing to the fund. Many of the tweets were angry and full of expletives. 

Izana (@astallya) wrote: DO. NOT. DONATE. HERE. I REPEAT DO NOT DONATE HERE!!! RINA HARUN MENTERI THE GOVERNMENT GAJI BERPULUH RIBU SEBULAN TAPI STILL HARAP DUIT RAKYAT KEPALA BONTOT KAULAH!!!!!!!!!! you can check out the replies and qrts for the right ngos and links you can donate to ANYWHERE BUT HERE!!

Another Twitter user, jediMASTER (@jedimaster909) wrote: “Please DO NOT DONATE to Rina Harun’s Keluarga Msia Flood Fund! Donate straight to the Victims! Do not trust this Rina Harun.”

Others questioned why the government was asking the people for money when they should have the funds to help the victims.

Twitter user MURTY (@murtified) said: “Remember: do not donate here or to that Rina Harun fund as well. They’re the government, they have money. Give your money directly to proper NGOs like the Gurdwara etc. or get items and directly help them if you can.”

Niresh Kaur (@NireshKaur) also shared the same sentiment.

“STOP ASKING US MORE MONEY. We pay our taxes for this exact purpose, not to fund your (expletive) Vellfire!! DO NOT DONATE HERE,” she wrote.

Rina, who is the Titiwangsa MP, also drew flak from Malaysians for her choice of attire to visit flood victims over the weekend. 

“rina harun datang kawasan banjir pakai heels is the most ridiculous thing I’ve seen in the Internet,” Rachel Wagner (@RachelW642285388) said in a post.

Her decision to have an event to announce the fund further fuelled criticism against her.

“Rina Harun is on another level of bodoh. Like seriously? Rakyat are bashing the government all over the social media but you still have the audacity to do this kind of ceremony. Halah halah b*** si tua acah model ni,” wrote Ariff (A2mhmdrff99) on Twitter.

Another politician who courted Malaysians’ anger is Deputy National Unity Minister Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal who posted about Bersatu’s youth wing’s initiative to raise funds.

This, too, was met with calls of “do not donate here”.

Social media users also flooded Apple Inc chief executive Tim Cook’s Twitter post to inform him to donate directly to civil society groups and not the government. Apple had earlier announced its intention to donate to flood relief efforts here.

HN (@nabilahariss) wrote: “Please dont send the donations to Malaysia’s government. You can reach out all the NGOs in Malaysia to send the donation. Thank youuu.”

Lomi-san (@mier_lan) said: “Mantap Tim. Dont give money to mael. Government steal money. Give to NGO. Sorry bad english.”

Another Twitter user Tze Way (@WayneTzeWay) said: “Thanks for your concern Mr. Cook, however please divert the funds to reliable NGOs instead of the Msia government. They have failed badly in crisis management in times like these and I foresee that the funds will be mismanaged in their hands.”

Cook tweeted earlier: “Typhoon Rai has caused so much devastation in the Philippines and Malaysia – so many families have lost so much. Apple will be contributing to relief, recovery, and longer-term rebuilding efforts. #OdettePH.”

Unusually heavy and continuous rain from Friday to Sunday caused large parts of the Klang Valley to be hit by floods. There were also floods in Perak, Pahang, Kelantan, Terengganu, Malacca and Negri Sembilan, up to roof-level in some places.

Currently, the death toll stands at 27, while more than 61,000 victims have been evacuated to relief centres, with Pahang and Selangor recording the highest number of evacuees.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s government has been criticised for its slow response to help flood victims. Rescue and clean-up efforts are ongoing. – December 22, 2021.