All public fundraising activities, including those organised by political leaders, should be subject to investigation if necessary, rather than focusing solely on the RM50 million solidarity fund raised for former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, says MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
He stressed that transparency and investigations must be applied fairly, warning against selective enforcement or double standards.
Wee said if there were calls to disclose and investigate the source of the RM50 million fund, the same scrutiny should also be extended to other public donation campaigns previously organised by different parties.
“Previously, DAP leaders who lost petitions or court cases also appealed to the public for donations. I understand they managed to reach their fundraising targets.
“Was the same thing done? I am merely asking: if leaders had previously appealed for public contributions after losing a case, was the same standard operating procedure (SOP) applied?
“There must be no favouritism in this matter,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters at the Ceramah Perdana Gelombang Biru in Taman Rambai Murni on Monday.
Elaborating further, Wee said the authorities had the means to obtain information about the source of the funds through bank account checks, provided such action was permitted under the law.
“I believe anyone who openly collects donations should also be prepared to have their accounts scrutinised by the authorities if permitted under the law and if there are any suspicions.
“However, the matter is ultimately up to the authorities, as they have the power to take such action,” he said.
Asked whether MCA had contributed to the solidarity fund, Wee clarified that the donations were largely made by individuals rather than the organisation itself.
He said individuals, including political leaders and businesspeople, had voluntarily contributed according to their respective financial capabilities, allowing the fund to reach its RM50 million target.
“Before there was even a chance to say anything, some had already contributed. But it depends on what each person can afford.
“Some may have given more, while others gave less, but every contribution is meaningful,” he said.
The issue surrounding the Najib Razak Solidarity Fund has attracted scrutiny after its collection reportedly surged from RM9.25 million to RM50 million within 40 days.
The rapid increase prompted questions about the transparency of the funds and the monitoring mechanisms governing political donations in Malaysia.
Several parties have called for investigations to establish whether the money received involved corruption, money laundering or contributions made in exchange for particular interests.
Among those raising concerns was Datuk A Kadir Jasin, who said the collection of tens of millions of ringgit within a short period required a more detailed explanation.
He also questioned whether substantial donations could be linked to parties with business interests or government concessions.
Kadir subsequently urged relevant agencies, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), to examine the flow of funds.
