COMMENT Charity is not immune from politics. History is replete with many examples of political families, dynasties and dictatorships who have sustained their political power through charity and establishing foundations. Religion, migration, colonisation and political ambitions have shaped how countries and individuals contribute to charity.

Governments enable the growth of charity nationally through laws, such as tax deductions for individuals and companies who contribute to philanthropy and charity.

It is the function of governments to respond to emergencies caused by natural disasters and do all they must, and can, to save all human lives in danger.

Time is of critical importance during disasters since food, water and medical aid that are able to reach victims at lightning speed will decide the outcome between life or death. The government has resources such as transport, personnel and medicines - all resources to provide disaster victims with quick access to clean water, food and shelter.

The East Coast states of the peninsula experienced some of the worst floods since Independence. Malaysia should have flood mitigation plans ready at the end of each year due to the monsoon season and rainy weather experienced annually... but the misery of disaster victims have become political tools as well.

When NGOs, donors, political parties and politicians play politics with charity, “everyone’s hands get dirty” and aid for disaster victims and the poor is delayed, or may never even reach them. This became evident when victims of the worst floods since 1967 in the East Coast states of the peninsula were denied timely aid.

When Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak suffered from E coli after his visits to flood-stricken areas days after disaster struck, it is news. How many flood victims suffered from E coli? The most common cause of E coli is contaminated food. How and when did the charity collected by political parties reach the victims?

Would timely aid have prevented the E coli contamination and reduced the suffering of the flood victims?

Yes, all hands get dirty when political parties enter the realm of collecting donations and various forms of aid. Political parties may appoint fund raisers, or their members to solicit funds.

Who then monitors the accountability for funds raised by political parties, media and institutions specifically for disaster victims? Do we know how all that money raised for victims of the 2004 Asian tsunami was spent and utilised?

When political parties are involved in collection donations and distributing aid, opportunities for abuse of power and corrupt practices emerge.

Political parties may influence who receives the aid, such as donations reaching the constituency of a particular political party. The distribution of aid by politicians take up much space and time for photo opportunities, time to have their pictures pasted on donations, time to decide on who gets aid, etc.

Personal and political gains

Politicians, like most of us, have been said to “devote most of their efforts to personal gains”. A study by Sobel and Leeson in 2006 - in their analysis of the US government’s response to Hurricane Katrina - state that “the choices and actions of politicians and bureaucrats are motivated by the incentives they face”.

A study - ‘Pork and Typhoons: The Influence of Political Connections on Disaster Response’ by Atkinson, James et al - shows that political connections, especially clan ties, increased reconstruction funds allocated to a given municipality in the Philippines.

In addition to providing monetary aid to an affected area, research shows that governors and presidents in the United States also receive votes for taking action after a disaster.

Studies in India show that in multi-party coalitions, discretionary distributions of aid hold together fractious members.

Political parties - both from the ruling and opposition coalitions - in Malaysia have contributed funds for the victims of the recent floods, and have not stopped their visits to areas devastated by the heavy rains and floods.

Yesterday, Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam ( right ) led a convoy of MIC members to deliver aid to the worst-hit areas in Pahang and Kelantan on a two-day trip to the East Coast.

As the health minister, he had to assess the costs of rebuilding destroyed health facilities, but he led a group of MIC members to deliver charity. The report in Malaysiakini does not indicate Health Ministry officials - who would be responsible for rebuilding - as accompanying the minister.

Charity is in the realm of the voluntary sector, the NGOs or civil society. In Malaysia, political parties are directly or indirectly linked to charities, foundations or religious based institutions.

Many studies have shown that the poor, and those in need of aid are vote banks during elections.

There is a porous boundary between the government, philanthropy and charity.

Politicians and political parties are involved in charities, foundations and in the voluntary sector. In Malaysia, constituents expect politicians to contribute to individual and community causes.

 

In 2010, US President Barack Obama declared he had contributed 14 percent of his income to charity. How much do Malaysian political parties and politicians contribute to charities annually?

Perhaps it is time to regulate the involvement of political parties in raising funds for charity and establishing party foundations, and urge for the transparency of party contributions to charity.

JOSIE FERNANDEZ is an Asian Public Intellectual Fellow.