THE noble intentions of Tabung Harapan have been marred with unnecessary and distasteful arguments surrounding a young boy’s donation to the fund. Since the DAP media event praising young Ervin Devadasan and the subsequent “stop the sideshows, just do the work” remark by a PKR leader, operatives from both DAP and PKR have been firing verbal missiles at each other.

This unwelcome intra-coalition duel between parties is a silent delight to opposition parties waiting to pounce, especially the bigots and racists still in time-warp slumber.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng had to explain that the fund, besides being to help pay off the national debt, is for the people to show patriotism, break from the past, show unity, and prevail together.

The intentions were noble but the fund’s name could have been better chosen to avoid being criticised as a “politically charged fund”.

Questions arise whether politicians themselves fully comprehend the whole purpose of the Tabung Harapan, and whether they anticipate what may be in store for our country and people if all hell is to break loose due to the contagion effect of an economic disaster happening elsewhere; or if it is to reap the spoils of an electoral conquest.

Patriot had on May 16 conceived a similar idea, ten days before news of spontaneous crowd-funding broke out. A veteran friend, Lt Col Liew Ngoh Chin, had called me and got me inspired. He had a similar but smaller experience when he raised funds to help purchase equipment for his field hospital when he served the United Nations peacekeeping force in Bosnia. We came out with a concept paper explaining in great detail the conduct and execution of the project we named the Love Malaysia Fund.

Targeted to raise RM1 billion, with termination in a year and a grand finale celebration on May 10, 2019, it was to be a people-led initiative with prominent politicians, key corporate leaders as advisors, and Dr Siti Hasmah as the patron.

The Love Malaysia Fund concept paper had to be fault-proof against discrepancies and fraud, clearly stated how it was to be audited, and was written with combined scientific composition and military precision. The key modus operandi was to get corporate leaders, associations, unions, political parties, sports bodies, celebrities, and the youth involved.

They were to become partners to help mobilise their own circle of contacts in chain actions.

We knew time was crucial, but we could not rush through conceptualising such an important national scale project. Every participant has to be crystal clear and well-briefed about the aim and objectives, and for the organising team, the modus operandi.

The Love Malaysia Fund was aimed at rallying Malaysian people throughout the country for a patriotic and noble cause by raising funds to help contribute and ease the nation’s debt burden. The parallel purpose of rallying all Malaysians and raising awareness of the national debt and its implications, the spirit of patriotism, and of shared responsibilities, is equally or even more important.

We would like to think that our original ideas and concepts of our Love Malaysia Fund were telepathically conveyed to Lim, with an omission to transmit our suggested name of the fund.

The intended one-year duration was also to be a period of undoing, unlearning, and deconstructing the ills emboldened in our ways of life, mindsets, and habits over the last few decades. A successful passage of this healing crisis phase will set our nation on strong footing to face future challenges from within and without.

Globally, in the European Union, the current disagreement in economic policies, immigration policies, taxes, compelled austerity measures, and the uncertainty in Italy, are reasons for the EU to disintegrate. These, plus the current strength of US dollars, provide predatory opportunities for hedge funds leading to a run of the Euro and demise of the EU. The debt crisis faced by the peso-using countries in Latin America, many having very high debt-to-GDP ratios, is also risk for collapse. A spark in any of these regions may cause a contagion effect and adversely affect Malaysia with our high national debt.

Executed well, the Tabung Harapan is a strategic vehicle for unifying and preparing Malaysia ahead. Malaysia has no room for bigots, racists, and petty bickering. Malaysia needs every one of its citizens to stand together. Even a 50 sen donation from a school kid has the power to reverberate throughout a strong nation of united people.

For that, young Ervin is a shining example to us all, regardless of age. – June 27, 2018.

* Captain Dr Wong Ang Peng is a researcher with an interest in economics, politics, and health issues. He has a burning desire to do anything within the means to help the new government in rebuilding our nation and promote national harmony. Captain Wong is also a member of the National Patriot Association.

* Captain Dr Wong Ang Peng is a researcher with an interest in economics, politics, and health issues. He has a burning desire to do anything within his means to promote national harmony. Captain Wong is also a member of the National Patriots Association.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.