By Syauqi Jamil
KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan (PH) government’s donation drive, Tabung Harapan are roughly RM12 million short to garnering a total of RM200 million collection.
As of 3.00pm today, the drive had reached a total of RM188,951,576.35 as confirmed by the Ministry of Finance.
This was three months after its establishment following voluntary donations by the public in helping the new PH government to help reduce the national debt.
Tabung Harapan was established by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad on May 30, in an attempt to bring down the massive RM1.087 trillion national debt.
On July 25, Deputy Finance Minister Amiruddin Hamzah said that there are still plenty of donations coming in from the masses from within the country as well as from abroad.
The Parti Pribumi Bersatu (PPBM) Kubang Pasu lawmaker added, tax exemptions still applies to any donations to the government, according to laws.
“Based on section 446 of the Income Tax Act 1967, income tax exemption is allowed on the entire donation value to the government including Tabung Harapan Malaysia,” he said.
Amiruddin also had mentioned that the PH government has yet to set a specific date nor an amount cap to the closing of Tabung Harapan.
