The DAP maintained that the government has no right to retain the balance of the JE Trust Fund although Agriculture Minister Effendi Norwawi explained that the bulk of the fund came from government tax on lottery draws.

According to DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock, the minister's decision to retain the balance amounting to RM17.97 million of the fund is against the intention of Malaysians who bought the lotteries to help the pig farmers affected by the 1999 Nipah outbreak.

"The minister's decision to retain the remainder for any purpose, which is different from its originally intended purpose, will be unfair to the pig farmers who are still in need of help," he said.

Effendi had earlier explained that under Cabinet's decision, the agriculture ministry decided to use the balance of the fund to combat 20 identified dairy and zoonatic diseases which may require the culling of livestock.

The minister said the government had compensated eligible farmers up to RM137.8 million from the total of RM155.7 million of the fund. Thus far, 1006 farmers have received their compensation.

According to Effendi, the government had initially allocated only RM113 million to compensate the farmers at RM70 per pig for the first 2,000 pigs culled while the balance of the fund would be disbursed equally to all the affected farmers.

However, prior to the Teluk Kemang by-election last year, the government increased the amount in the fund after they decided to pay RM120 per pig for the first 2,000 pigs and RM85 per pig for subsequent ones.

Individual contributions

Effendi also said that about RM140.72 million of the fund came from government tax on lotteries while the rest of the money came from corporate donations.

"Only one individual contributed to this fund," he explained in a faxed reply to Kerk on Friday.

"The agriculture ministry appreciates the contributions from various companies and individuals involved, but without the government's allocation, the compensation to the farmers could not be carried out," Effendi added.

Kerk said last Saturday that he had been made to understand that the RM140.72 million collected from the special lottery draws were profits, and not just government tax.

According to Kerk, the government has approved three lottery companies - namely, Magnum Corporation, Pan Malaysian Pools and Sports Toto - to carry out special draws in 1999 and 2000 to raise fund for the affected farmers.

"If what Effendi said is true, that is, the amount of RM140.72 million was only government tax, does this mean that the government has allowed the three lottery companies to reap extra profits through the special draws?" he asked.

Financial assistance

The government said while the Nipah virus outbreak is over now, it must serve as a lesson.

"The farmers should be thankful because they're safe from the disease and death, besides getting financial assistance," Effendi said.

"Following this episode, actions have been taken to restructure the pig-farming industry so the outbreak would not occur again," he added in his reply to Kerk.

The minister also announced that the government had acted swiftly and accurately in containing the disease.

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

The outbreak not only jeopardised the health of Bukit Pelanduk residents, but 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.