KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 ― The federal government has no direct involvement in the operations of Yayasan Pembangunan Ekonomi Islam Malaysia (Yapeim) or knowledge of the alleged mismanagement at the entity, a deputy minister said today.

Senator Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki also said that Yapeim will respond to allegations made by National Oversight and Whistleblowers (NOW) soon.

“You must understand, Yapeim is an independent entity, it is not directly under the government.

“It is governed by a trust, it has its own board of trustees,” he told Malay Mail Online when contacted.

“The claims made against Yapeim are an internal matter, therefore I think it is best for Yapeim to address them,” the deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Islamic affairs) added.

In his first press conference on the issue Monday, NOW director Akmal Nasir alleged that RM223,000 was transferred from Yapeim to the account of its deputy chief who is also a Wanita Umno leader, during the campaign period for the Rompin by-election.

He questioned the purpose of the transfer and demanded that Putrajaya give its reasons for allowing it, noting that Yapeim’s funds were meant for Muslim welfare.

According to him, Yapeim was a charity set up by the federal government in 1976 and placed under the purview of the prime minister, with special attention from Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, minister in charge of Islamic affairs.

He said more than half a million Malaysians have joined Yapeim’s monthly salary cut scheme to donate their money and estimated that the charity will receive RM65.73 million this year from public donations.

Akmal also claimed that it had been Jamil Khir  who had recommended the appointments of Yayasan Pembangunan Ekonomi Islam Malaysia’s  (Yapeim) chairman and deputy, who is also a Wanita Umno leader.

He alleged yesterday that Yapeim’s deputy, her husband and her son have a combined monthly income of RM81,700 from their positions in the foundation’s various institutions and subsidiaries.