MCA is zooming in on Bersih and Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism's (C4) sources of funding, claiming PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli's response to the two groups hints at questionable sources.

Yesterday, Rafizi said Invoke is funded using his savings, unlike other groups who "get paid from a grant to say things".

He said this when responding to C4 and Bersih's criticism of the PKR-linked NGO's move to offer voter registration cash incentives.

MCA central committee member Ti Lian Ker said by saying so, Rafizi is implying that high profile individuals are being paid salaries out of grants.

"Interesting! Very interesting indeed. Rafizi had said little but enough to tell a lot.

"I am wondering aloud, is our national whistle-blower holding back facts or evidences of morally wrongdoings of some friendly activist who are receiving paychecks and grants from external forces?" Ti said in a statement.

As such, it is important for groups like C4 and Bersih to be transparent over the source of those grants, he said.

He added groups championing noble causes "may just be a camouflage by some funders with bigger agenda".

"Who are giving these grants? What is their agenda? Who among these high profile activists are being paid and how much?

"Are these individuals walking on high moral grounds compromising the state's interest under the camouflage of NGOs with high moral sounding names?" he asked.

Fund sources published

Electoral watchdog Bersih crowdsourced RM1.5 million in the lead up to its fourth mega rally last year, and publishes its accounts for public vetting.

C4 publishes its source of funding, expenditure and activities periodically and through its annual report, available on its website.

"We also publish our project partners, and where cost sharing is incurred," Cynthia said when contacted.

She also expressed surprise that the issue of luring voters to register with cash, is now twisted to be about C4's funding.

"It is disappointing that the MCA is using a jaded attack on civil society by jumping on the funding bogetman yet again," she said.

Invoke on Monday offered weekly cash prizes of up to RM1,000 for newly-registered voters, as a means to encourage the four million qualified youth to put themselves on the electoral roll.

Bersih chief Maria Chin Abdullah said it reflected a "pathetic" state of affairs while C4 executive director Cynthia Gabriel said it was a bad move.

Political analysts, however, cautiously welcomed it as a creative way to spur voter registration.

Invoke said it chose to offer cash prizes after a survey on youth said they will more likely register if there are cash incentives.