Penang Umno assemblypersons have denied allegations that the state government has not received the money given under the senior citizens appreciation programme that was handed to Umno on grounds that funds for the programme came from illegal sources.

Acting state opposition leader Dr Hilmi Yahya (BN-Teluk Bahang) said the money, which Umno attempted to return to the state in the last assembly sitting in November, has been banked into a state government account.

Hilmi said the money was banked into the state government's Maybank account in four payments of RM4,950, RM9,900, RM7,600 and RM1,250 on Dec 22 last year.

NONE"The money is not lost, as alleged by the state government, because we have already credited it into its account," Hilmi (left) told a press conference at the Penang legislative assembly today.

He and other Umno assemblypersons then held up what they said were photocopies of the Maybank account statement showing that the money was banked in.

"We had to bank it into the account last year as the state government refused to accept the money the last time we attempted to return it," he said.

"It is not Umno that went to look for the money," said Hilmi, who was former deputy chief minister, adding that the cash was collected by several NGOs that handed it over to their assemblypersons.

He was responding to state exco for health, welfare, caring society and environment Phee Boon Poh's question to him in the state assembly about the whereabouts of the money.

Phee (DAP-Sungai Puyu) was referring to the money that Umno attempted to return to the state assembly in November last year.

During that sitting, Penang Umno Youth deputy chief Norman Zahalan brought about RM26,000 in cash in a plastic bag and tried to hand it over to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

'Money given to registered voters only'

State government officials had flatly refused the money, saying it was not properly documented.

Hilmi today reiterated Umno's criticism of the senior citizens appreciation programme, calling it Pakatan Rakyat's style of cheap publicity.

He said Umno had received complaints from senior citizens that the money was only given to registered voters.

As for filling up forms to return the money, he said Phee only wanted to play politics.

Another Umno assemblyperson, Mahmud Zakaria (BN-Sungai Aceh) asked who would think of filling up a form to return money.

"They would just return it. They are already disappointed and angry... they are not in a normal situation. Who will fill forms?" Mahmud asked.

Jasmin Mohammed (BN-Sungai Dua) blamed the state government's lack of information about the programme, which led to the senior citizens returning the cash.

"They failed to explain properly the source of the money, so when the rakyat is in doubt, they returned it...we understand the situation, but they do not," Jasmin said.