DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has lodged a report with the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) against Melaka Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam over the alleged misappropriation of a medical fund for needy patients.

The report, filed on Jan 4, is the first against Mohd Ali this year and the fifth since 2004.

Lim ( left ) claimed in the report that the chief minister mismanaged more than RM900,000 since Dec 19 2001 to pay his family's medical bill.

In the report, a copy of which was made available to malaysiakini , Lim claimed that the original intent of setting up the fund in the chief minister's name was to provide financial help to the poor who seek treatment in local hospitals.

The fund is managed by Southern Hospital, now known as Hospital Putra.

Lim claimed that an investigation revealed that in the three years of operation, over RM590,000 or 65 percent of the mystery fund was used for wealthy people with 'Datuk' titles and family members of the chief minister ( right ) himself.

He said RM365,000 or 40 percent was allegedly used to pay for medical treatments of his wife, children, brother-in-law, mother-in-law, elder sister and his late mother whereas another RM225,000 or 25 percent was for the 'Datuks' or their wives.

Free treatment

The opposition party leader said it was strange for Mohd Ali's wife and children to take advantage of the mystery fund and deprive the poor of medical treatment when they qualify for free medical treatment.

"This should not be happening because they do not deserve financial assistance for medical treatment," he added in the report.

According to him, the expenses allegedly occurred between Dec 19, 2001, and March 31, 2005.

Lim claimed that RM368,283.82 allegedly cames from Melaka Umno with the remaining RM539,958.51 sourced from public fund raised by Mohd Ali.

He said the issue is related to the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 as it involves public funds collected for the needy, selective disbursement of money and the absence of any public announcement of such an avenue for poor and needy patients.

The act of a public official in alleged mismanagement of public funds, he said, violated sections 10 to 15 of the 1997 Act.

The offence carries a minimum jail term of 14 days and a maximum of 20 years, a minimum fine 50 times the value of the total sum or bribe offered or RM10,000, whichever is higher under section 16.

Lim said since 40 percent of the mystery public fund was allegedly given to Mohd Ali's family members, it breached the fund's objective and was an abuse of power under the 1997 Act.

He also submitted documents related to the financial accounts and recipients of the fund.