According to DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock, MCA announced last year that a total of RM15,849,681 was collected for the fund.

Kerk said that after the money was disbursed to the pig-farmers, there was a balance of RM2,768,746 which the MCA said would use for training purposes, especially to assist the farmers' widows acquire some skills.

He added that in July this year, the trustees approved a total of 68 appeal cases and each applicant was paid RM25,000, including some 50 Nipah patients who had lodged their complaints with the DAP.

"Simple calculation would show that a total of RM1.7 million was given out in these appeal cases and there should therefore be a new balance of RM1.06 million," Kerk said.

"MCA must therefore explain the differences in the balance figures and explain how much of the fund has been used for training purposes."

Yesterday, MCA JE fund trustee Leong Tang Chong revealed that the balance in the fund now amounted to only RM584,935.94, and the balance has yet to be disbursed to 28 applicants because of incomplete information.

The DAP also asked the board of trustees managing the fund exactly when it would make a decision on the 28 applicants, who are yet to receive the money.

"All Nipah patients who made their complaints with the DAP last year and succeeded in their appeals had the necessary and relevant documents by October last year. I fail to understand why board of trustees needs months to verify the other 28 cases," Kerk said.

Skills training no help

At a press conference in Bukit Pelanduk two days ago, 16 widows appealed to the MCA to disburse the balance of the JE fund to them. They claimed that the training provided by MCA has not been of much help to them.

MCA Wanita organised some skills courses - which the women's wing claimed as a success - to help the Bukit Pelanduk womenfolk who were affected by the 1999 Nipah outbreak.

However, some widows complained that they were not able to capitalise on their newly acquired skills although they had to fork out their own money as tuition fees, and pay for the materials used in the handicraft course they attended.

The Nipah virus outbreak killed 100 people and severely affected the health of 200 others.

The outbreak also crippled the entire pig-farming industry in Negeri Sembilan, said to be the biggest and most lucrative in Southeast Asia.

Most of the pig farmers then, who were in their 40s, lost their livelihood when the industry collapsed.