Farid Evades Queries On RM1 Billion Donation Pledge

PENANG, Feb 6 (Bernama) -- The question of whether the National Cancer Council (Makna) has received a donation of RM1 billion from self-proclaimed Lebanese "billionaire" Elie Yousef Najem remains unanswered.
Makna chairman Datuk Farid Ariffin would not confirm if the money pledged by Elie had been deposited in the council's account.
"Don't ask me anything, I don't know about it. Cancer patients will continue to pray that Elie will fulfil his pledge," he told reporters after attending a ceremony to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Makna, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Jobstreet.com, Pos Malaysia Berhad and Yayasan Sekolah Penang Free here Monday.
"I have not been in contact with anyone for the last several days as I had switched off my handphone. With Elie too, I have not been in touch the past four days," he said.
Elie told the press recently he would credit part of the pledged amount into Makna's account this week.
Meanwhile, Under the MOU, USM will provide its expertise in micro-credit funding to help Makna raise funds for the benefit of needy cancer patients.
Farid said that there were about 90,000 cancer patients in the country and each of them needed between RM30,000 and RM70,000 for treatment.
Makna had collected about RM90 million and disbursed RM40 million, he added.