ALARMED by news of the country’s RM1 trillion debt pile, Malaysians have begun pitching in to help offset the massive loan.

A crowdfunding campaign has been started by activist Nik Shazarina Bakti to get donations she said will be funneled to the new Pakatan Harapan (PH) government to help it pay off the country’s borrowings.

As of press time, the “Please Help Malaysia” on the GoGetFunding site https://gogetfunding.com/please-help-malaysia/ has attracted 74 backers and collected US$2,605 (RM10,370).

The campaign, which will run till July 31, aims to collect US$100,000.

In her message on the campaign’s page, Nik Shazarina drew a parallel between the euphoria Malaysians felt by the historic change in government and the excitement their predecessors felt after getting independence from Britain.

“Dearest Malaysians, do you remember that time when our forefathers gave their jewellery, money and valuables up just so that Tunku and the then Government could raise enough funds to go to London and claim for Merdeka (Independence)?”

“Lets do it again!” she wrote.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng announced that the country owed creditors a total of RM1 trillion, which was inherited from the previous Barisan Nasional administration that was deposed in GE14.

The debt pile includes RM686.8 billion in official government debt, RM199.1 billion in government guarantees and RM201.4 billion for public-private partnership projects.

Lim’s announcement rang alarm bells in the local bourse, which has charted 14 straight days of foreign capital outflows.

The news drove Nik Shazarina to set up the campaign.

“Recently, it was announced that Malaysia has a debt of RM 1 trillion (~USD 250 billion). That is a lot of 0s,” she wrote.

“I set this fundraising page up as I hope to gather Malaysians and also the rest of the world to help contribute towards reducing Malaysia’s debt.”

One backer, Shanthini Murthi said: “As a proud Malaysian who voted it is also my duty to help my country when it needs it.”

Another donor Indra Goslih said her contribution was on behalf of her and her daughter.

“We want to help Malaysia to be a much better country under the best prime minister ever Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the well chosen new great ministers for the cabinet. Regards.

Shazarina said she will provide daily updates on how much she has collected in order to prove that her intentions were genuine and that all proceeds will be given to the government.

“Many have enquired (about what is the assurance that) the funds be given to the government, I know I am a stranger to most but believe me, I am not going to pocket any of the funds,” she wrote.

“I will make sure I upload proof of the funds being channeled to the government. Please feel free to contact me for any questions.”

The writer describes herself as a “27-year-old Malaysian, very much in love and proud of my country” and a “activist for the benefit of humanity”.

She claims to be a legal officer at the Muslim group Sisters in Islam (SIS) and holds a Masters degree in Law from the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London.

Her campaign has also drawn support from newly-elected Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah who said Shazarina had contacted her for help in delivering the donations to the government.

“I feel that this is a good effort by a young Malaysian who wants to find a way to contribute to the nation,” Maria said in a short statement.

“Although we may disagree about having to use even more of the rakyat’s money to settle the debt, we cannot deny that the debt is still there and is a huge threat to all of us.

“I support her initiative because something has to be done so that we can get back up on our feet. – May 26, 2018.