Anti-graft NGO: Was welfare money used for Rompin election?

SUNGAI BESI, Nov 9 — National Oversight and Whistleblowers (NOW) today produced documents that it claims suggests foul play in the transfer of RM223,000 from Yayasan Pembangunan Ekonomi Islam Malaysia (Yapeim) to an Umno leader during campaign period for the Rompin by-election.

The anti-graft NGO’s director Akmal Nasir said they had obtained meeting minutes from Yapeim that showed the money had been transferred to the agency’s deputy director, who is also Umno Wanita leader Datuk Siti Jeliha @ Zaleha Hussin during the period.

The cash, which is mainly from donors who voluntarily have their monthly salaries cut for the programme, were actually intended to be deposited into the accounts of three different persons, purportedly for an Islamic education programme in Rompin.

“This is very suspicious as the money was meant to be deposited to three persons for the programme, but it instead went straight into the account of Datuk Siti Jeliha,” Akmal told a press conference held at the group’s office here.

The Rompin by-election in Pahang was held on May 1; Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Hasan Ariffin retained the parliamentary seat for the coalition by defeating PAS, albeit with a smaller margin.

Akmal said that based on the meeting minutes, Zaleha had received the RM223,000 in stages throughout the campaign period, with the last being just two days before voting.

The NOW director said Putrajaya must explain why the money was given to Zaleha when Yapeim funds are meant for Muslim welfare.

“If it is true, then the money went into what programmes and who were the benefactors of the money?

“If it is not true (that the money went to Zaleha) then where did the RM223,000 go to?” he said.

Yapeim falls under the direct watch of the Prime Minister’s Department and is overseen by Minister of Islamic Affairs Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.

Akmal said both Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Jamil must address the allegations.

“If it is true that the money was used for other purpose other than the welfare development of Muslims, then Malaysian Muslims would certainly be very disappointed,” he added.