KUALA LUMPUR: A PKR leader today took to Twitter in a brief posting criticising Tabung Harapan Malaysia.
Member of the party's Central Leadership Council Latheefa Koya claimed that the fund was 'politically charged'.
"Tabung Harapan is a politically charged fund. So to get a 12 year old to handover his piggy bank is ridiculous and a pretty cheap stunt," Latheefa said.
She ended the tweet with the hashtags #startgoverning and #enoughofgimmicks.
While she made no specific mention on the child who handed his piggybank, earlier today DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang received a donation for Tabung Harapan from 12-year-old Ervin Devadasan.
It was reported that Ervin had saved up the money for six months to buy a drum set but changed his mind and decided to donate to the fund instead.
Latheefa's tweet was met with mixed response from Twitter users.
Twitter user @mahkaufan said: "PKR again show it is weakest link in PH. Either talk bad about component party or fight for position.. very BN like. Are we in the twilight zone?"
Another user @zach1ZA said: "No one's forcing anyone to donate anything."
Several agreed with Latheefa, with Twitter user @loqstark saying that Pakatan Harapan (PH) should indeed start governing.
"Agreed. Get on with governing. Enough of politics. We get it. BN sucks. Najib sucks. That's why we booted them out," @loqstark said.
"Ya I think that went a little too far - they should have politely declined the poor boy's hard earned savings," said @limweijiet.
Meanwhile, Segambut parliamentarian Hannah Yeoh wrote on Facebook stressing that Tabung Harapan was not a political fund.
"I told Erwin to keep his piggybank and get himself the drum set he wanted. He refused because according to him, 'Malaysia is in need'. His father was present," Yeoh said, informing that Ervin's father contacted her to say his son wished to donate his piggybank to the fund.
Yeoh then invited them to meet Lim at her office.
"They were thrilled to be able to meet Lim Kit Siang and have their photo taken.
"For everyone who is criticising this move to allow Ervin to donate to Tabung Harapan Malaysia - I have this to say : It is time we allow our young to express themselves freely and we support them when their desire is noble. He wants to help his country. He spoke with conviction. I am proud of Ervin and I am certain we have many similar stories across Malaysia. Keep doing what is right.
"I am not ashamed to witness the handover of his piggybank. The people who should be ashamed are those who have stolen from the taxpayers and being the reason for the existence of such a fund," Yeoh said.
Get the latest World Cup 2018 scores, highlights and updates from our dedicated news page. Click here