DONATIONS to Tabung Harapan Malaysia have more than doubled to RM18 million as of 3pm today, from RM7 million yesterday, the Finance Ministry said.

It has collected RM18,608,925.36, an increase of 163% compared with the RM7,075,508.79 received yesterday, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said in a statement today.

Yesterday, Lim said Malaysians donated RM7 million to the fund in less than 24 hours since it was set up.

However, Lim warned Malaysians to verify the account number carefully after a fake poster with a different account number was circulated on social media and in chat groups today.

The fund’s Maybank account number is 5660 1062 6452.

“The ministry will lodge a police report against any individual trying to take advantage of the public’s goodwill,” he said.

The amount collected exceeded expectations as many Malaysians continue to be euphoric about Pakatan Harapan’s win in the May 9 elections.

Some donors have taken to social media to share snapshots of transaction slips as proof of their donations.

Tabung Harapan was started after some social media users said they wanted to raise funds to help the government repay the RM1 trillion debt.

Lim said the donations were a way for people to show their “passion” for the country when asked if the donation drive would give the wrong impression about the country’s financial situation.

Finance Ministry special officer and Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming said the fund was started to prevent fraud, while prominent economist and member of the Council of Eminent Persons Jomo Kwame Sundaram said donors were doing so as an act of patriotism.

The fund has also received support from some organisations. 

Malindo Air pledged to donate RM1 from the sale of every domestic flight ticket from today to August 31. 

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress urged workers to donate while the Council of Churches Malaysia also called on churches to do likewise. – June 1, 2018.