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Clockwise from top left: Zhang Ziyi, Li Bingbing, Hu Yanbin and Zhao Wei

THE love and generosity of the Chinese celebrities in helping Sichuan earthquake victims have touched the world.

Soon after the disaster on May 12, 2008, many of them in the music and movie industries have come together to raise funds for the survivors.

They also announced the donate of millions of Renminbi to the victims and help rebuild their homes.

Among them, Zhang Ziyi even launched a fund donation drive at the Cannes Film Festival in France.

The movie star also announced that she had raised US$1mil (RM3.25mil) and would fork out another 1mil yuan (RM500,000) from her own pocket.

More than one year has passed, the Chinese media discovered the figures announced by certain stars did not tally the records of the Chinese Red Cross Foundation (CRCF) and Red Cross Society of China (RCSC).

CRCF and RCSC were the official bodies appointed by China government to handle the funds.

The records showed that Zhang had remitted only 840,000 yuan (RM420,000) to CRCF in two donations, Guang Ming Daily reported.

She has been criticised for not honouring her word. The public also wanted to know the whereabouts of the remaining funds.

Zhang has yet to respond to the matter.

Besides Zhang, several celebrities were also reported to have donated different amounts from the figures they announced earlier.

Li Bingbin, who had pledged to donate 300,000 yuan (RM150,000), had only given 500 yuan (RM250).

Zhao Wei and veteran actress Liu Xiaoqing were supposed to give out 100,000 yuan (RM50,000) each but CRCF only received 20,000 yuan (RM10,000) and 4,300 yuan (RM2,150) from them respectively.

CRCF also received 50 yuan (RM25) from singer Hu Yanbing, who had announced a donation of 50,000 yuan (RM25,000).


Zhou Xun

While these stars' donations were less than what they had pledged, the case was different for Zhou Xun and Huang Xiao Ming.

Zhao Xun had announced a donation of 100,000 yuan (RM50,000), but gave triple the amount.
Huang had made numerous donations totalling 150,000 yuan (RM75,000).

Chinese scholars said there was a possibility that some of the money raised could have been channelled to the government’s fund due to the lack of a proper fund management system in the country.



Published Feb 7, 2010
The Daily Chilli