Kuala Lampur, April 26 -- The reported millions in monies from public donations intended for the poor and vulnerable being diverted by officials of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) for the purchase of 18 luxury cars, branded watches and landed property have rightly been said to have gutted public trust.

It has prompted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to call for more stringent regulations for charities that conduct public donation collection to prevent irregularities and misuse.

Anwar said the proposal was timely as "there are currently more cases of organisations involved in irregularities and misuse of donation funds".

More than three years ago I highlighted the call by legal scholars for a single statute or legislation ...