Thursday, May 1, 2008

Lim: Why donate to Bakti? - NST

BUTTERWORTH: May 1, 2008 By S. Arulldas

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has questioned the rationale behind Pertubuhan Bunga Tanjung (PBT) donating a major portion of its funds to the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti).

"What has Bakti got to do with Penang that so much money was donated to them?

"It is unacceptable... if the money is donated to charities we will accept it but we don't see why so much money should be given to Bakti, which is not even a charitable organisation," he said.

PBT -- the association of wives of Barisan Nasional assemblymen and members of parliament -- had a total of RM590,665 when it was dissolved.

Of this, RM350,000 was donated to Bakti.

Former chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon's wife, Puan Sri Chui Kah Peng, announced the donation on Tuesday.

The former president of PBT had said that the remaining funds were donated to the Bureau on Learning Difficulties, the Cheshire Home, the Mental Health Association of Penang and the Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital.

Lim wants Koh to explain the matter to the people in the state.

Lim, who is also the Bagan member of parliament, said this after arriving from parliament to hand over aid to the Jalan Chain Ferry fire victims here yesterday.

More than 20 people were left homeless in Tuesday's fire.

Lim said he would check if PBT's action was carried out in accordance with its constitution.

"If the constitution did not specify that the organisation was for the wives of BN elected representatives only, then PBT should have handed over the money to the new government. They should not have dissolved PBT."

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