Penang-born NZ mayor urges govt to help foreign missions facilitate Tabung Harapan donations

PETALING JAYA: Penang-born mayor of Kapiti Coast in Wellington, New Zealand K. Gurunathan (pic) has urged the Government to arrange for its foreign diplomatic offices around the world to facilitate donations towards the Tabung Harapan Malaysia (THM) fund.

In a statement on Friday (June 8), Gurunathan said this initiative will improve the links between Malaysian diplomatic gateways and the Malaysian diaspora overseas.

"I see the personal financial donation not as a small contribution towards Malaysia's debt burden but more as a powerful and symbolic show of support for the commitment of the Pakatan Harapan Government towards the democratic rule of law and their pledge against racial politics and corruption," he said.

Gurunathan said he would be making a NZ$1,000 (RM2,796) donation next week at the Malaysian High Commission in Wellington.

He also urged Malaysians in New Zealand and around the world to support the campaign, adding that there were at least a million Malaysians across the world with 18,000 in New Zealand alone.

The trust fund was set up by the Government after numerous Malaysians expressed a desire to help the country reduce its national debt of RM1 trillion.

The fund, which was launched on May 30, has so far raised RM49mil as of June 7.