Pig farmers are demanding an explanation from MCA regarding the JE Humanitarian Fund or else they will refer the matter to the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA).

Pig farmer PC Lai told malaysiakini that he obtained information from sources in Bank Negara which revealed that several insurance companies and banks have donated RM10 million to the fund, but this amount was not accounted for in detail.

Lai said that Bank Negara had called for a meeting in June with insurance companies and bankers to discuss the types of assistance that can be extended to farmers who cannot honour their loans.

"More than 10 cheques have been presented to an MCA minister by the bankers and insurance companies," said Lai.

"They (MCA) have to publicly explain what has happened to the money or else we have to go to ACA," he added.

Last year, after the Nipah outbreak, the government ordered the bank interests to be waived for those owing loans to the banks if they were affected by the virus which caused many pigs to be culled.

However, when the pig farmers contacted the banks they were told that there was no such directive from the government, Lai said.

Subsequently, the pig farmers were forced to go to Bank Negara, who learnt that the banks had donated the money to the fund, he added.

"But where is the RM10 million?" queried Lai, adding that the pig farmers were afraid to ask further because they had not received the additional RM70 per pig compensation that was promised by the government then.

"There are no records, accounts and documents available for us to check. We have to wait for the accounts to be disclosed before we can question anyone," he added.

Last Tuesday, MCA Youth secretary Yew Tiong Look said that MCA had disbursed RM13,082,935 to pig farmers from a total of RM15,851,000 collected.

Yew said that the remaining amount will be channeled to a special training programme fund to help farmers learn new skills.

Lai said that it was unlikely that the RM10 million formed part of the RM15,851.000 the MCA mentioned.

Yesterday, a press conference was held by the Malaysian Swine Producers Association by the Nipah Disaster Committee, led by Lai, who alleged some of the funds were disbursed to people who were not pig farmers.

Similar reactions

Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall president Ngan Ching Wen commented that MCA should not use the remaining RM2.76 mil for training programmes.

Ngan said that MCA's action is a gross diversion from the real purpose of the fund and is unfair to the donors.

Meanwhile, DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock said that due to the many allegations from pig farmers about the fund, he will be visiting the MCA headquarters in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, on Monday to obtain the full list of recipients of the fund.

He said that he has conveyed his intention to MCA president and Transport Minister Dr Ling Liong Sik this morning.

"The MCA cannot ignore the allegations made by the pig farmers who are victims of the Nipah virus outbreak," said Kerk.

"Ling should therefore extend his cooperation and provide the DAP delegation with the full list of recipients of the fund," he added.

Kerk also said that Lai's allegations had raised very serious concerns with regard to the transparency and fairness in how the fund was managed.