Education Minister denies instructing schools to donate to Tabung Harapan

– Bernama

PETALING JAYA: Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik has never issued any form of directive, written or oral, requiring schools, especially in Kelantan, to donate to the Tabung Harapan Malaysia fund.

“An investigation carried out has found that it was an initiative by the Kelantan state education department to involve all schools in the state in the fund collection campaign,” said the ministry in a statement Friday (July 6).

The department has since cancelled the campaign.

The ministry was responding to allegations that went viral on social media, claiming that Dr Maszlee had instructed schools to play their part for the fund.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced the setting up of the fund on May 30 for Malaysians to contribute towards reducing the country’s debts, after Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng had reported that the country’s debt was more than RM1 trillion.

As of Thursday (July 5), Malaysian individuals and corporations have donated more than RM140mil.