UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid has announced the launch of a fundraising bid to pay the fine imposed on former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
For those unfamiliar with the case, the payment of this fine is a condition for Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until 23 August 2028. The fine was set at RM50 million, according to a statement by the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department.
This follows the conditional pardon granted to Najib by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, on 18 August.
Within three hours, UMNO secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki announced that the fund had collected RM634,562.02, with many contributors reportedly donating RM10 or RM50.
Although the amount raised was still far short of the target at that point, there is no denying that the sum collected in such a short period was substantial.
However, this phenomenon is not unique to UMNO, nor is it limited to Najib’s supporters.
Fundraising campaigns to help politicians facing court cases or financial liabilities have in fact been organised by several other political parties and groups.
For example, in 2020, DAP announced that it had raised almost RM4 million through the ‘Solidarity with Lim Guan Eng’ campaign, which ran for a week.
Later in 2022, DAP also launched a fundraising campaign to help two of its members, Yeo Bee Yin and Tony Pua, pay RM350,000 in damages after they were found liable for defaming former MCA deputy president Chew Mei Fun.
PAS also launched a ‘Jihad Donation’ fund to help pay damages in a defamation suit brought by three DAP leaders against Kepala Batas MP Siti Mastura Muhammad, amounting to RM830,034.75.
Separately, Gabungan Solidariti Anak Selangor (GSAS) launched a fundraising drive to help Sungai Besar UMNO chief Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos pay damages after he lost a defamation case brought by DAP leader Teresa Kok.
What I find particularly interesting is this: who exactly contributes to these kinds of fundraising campaigns?
It is not difficult to imagine that some of the contributors are ordinary Malaysians, including those from the B40 and M40 income groups, who may have to dip into their own savings to contribute whatever they can afford.
The question is, why would they be willing to do this for a politician or leader who is not financially disadvantaged?
The income of a Member of Parliament can itself run into the tens of thousands of ringgit a month, while those holding ministerial positions receive even higher salaries and benefits.
At the same time, many ordinary Malaysians continue to struggle with the cost of living, rent, their children’s education and everyday expenses. If the money being donated genuinely comes from disposable savings, then of course it is every individual’s right to decide who they wish to support financially.
But the bigger question is this: why are we sometimes more inclined to help the political leaders we support when there are still many other Malaysians who may be in greater need of assistance?
Perhaps the answer lies in loyalty and trust in a particular political leader.
But to me, the phenomenon remains worth reflecting on: in politics, how far can loyalty go in compelling ordinary people to reach into their own pockets to help someone who is, in reality, in a far more privileged financial position than they are?
Azzman Mantoya (azzman.tvpertiwi@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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