When people donate money to those who have suffered a loss, they feel that they have done something to relieve the pain of another human being who deserves a helping hand. When the money donated for a special cause is unaccounted for, and the intended recipients do not receive the funds, then the donors become concerned that their gifts have been wrongly diverted.

Allegations of this kind were raised in the recent Teluk Kemung by-election, when the DAP was asked to account for funds set aside for the education of minor children. The officers of the DAP quickly brought forward the records dating back almost two decades, and the records were verified by the mother of the minor children. The mother offered to return the ten thousand ringgit gift of the questioning donor. This is an instance where the public was reassured that the funds were managed honestly and in trust for the intended recipients. By this open display of its desire to merit the regard of the public the DAP provided an example of how a political party should respond to questions regarding the funds which are entrusted to its management.

Another fund came into the public eye at that same time, a fund which was collected to assist the Chinese farmers who lost their homes and businesses in the Nipah virus outbreak. Millions of ringgit were donated by generous people to give a little assistance in this tragic affair. The funds were turned over to the MCA party to be managed and distributed to the victims. The MCA officers were quoted at the time as saying that "every cent would be accounted for." Later the MCA officers stated that an independent accounting firm was keeping accurate records, and would give a full report of all funds collected and distributed.

The independent accounting firm, a leading Kuala Lumpur accounting firm, has not been heard from. Either as an oversight, or an inattention to detail, the MCA has not presented the Price-Waterhouse Coopers report to the public. If the MCA has ordered the report to made public, then it is difficult for the public to understand why the accounting firm has not honored this request. The accounting firm should clear its name in regard to the handling of this fund.

At the time of the by-election, there were rumours on the internet that the president of MCA had been confronted by the prime minister on this very issue, and that Ling Leong Sik had been ordered to resign when the funds were not distributed forthwith. Ling resigned and went to Perth, Australia, where he was visited by various members of the MCA. After a short period, Ling returned to Malaysia and announced that he would not resign after all. It was assumed that the missing funds had been accounted for, with assurances that the money would be distributed to the deserving farmers before the election, along with the RM120 million given to the MCA for this purpose.

Now another fund given to the MCA to manage and distribute has been brought into the news. The Chang Min Thien scholarship fund is being reviewed, and the reaction from Ling is that "this issue is not for discussion." The public naturally wonders why the fund cannot be discussed, and who is responsible for the accounting of the fund. This is pertinent because the courts have ruled that the funds must be returned to representatives of the donors.

The treasurer of the MCA, William Chek, has reportedly expressed a desire to resign, and has been dissuaded from doing so by president Ling. In view of Ling's frequent trips to Perth, and the reluctance of Ling to open the subject of fund management to public discussion, there is an urgent necessity to provide transparency and accountability in the handling of all donated and government funds. The president of the MCA must take full responsibility for the suspicion that falls on his party in the handling of these funds.

The recent call for Ling's resignation by two MCA branches, mentioning his responsibility for the fraudulent issuance of driver's licenses over a period of years, adds to the dissatisfaction which Ling's performance. Before either the MCA treasurer or the party president depart their offices, it would contribute to a better international climate if the matter of the two funds could be cleared up, with the help of the independent accounting firm.

Singapore TV today recommended that investors avoid property markets in Asean countries with questionable political parties and judiciary systems. While not specifically naming the countries to avoid, downtown scenes of Kuala Lumpur were prominent. This was not a coincidence. Countries favoured for their judiciary systems were the UK, Australia and New Zealand. The Malaysian financial scene will continue to deteriorate until there is a complete change in the international perceptions of the corruption that is endemic in Malaysia. A thorough airing of the MCA fund management is now required without further excuse or delay.