KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 — National Oversight and Whistleblowers (NOW) today added another claim to its growing list of allegations against a local charity foundation, this time accusing it and an orphanage under its watch of spending some RM170,000 for a trip to New York last year.

NOW chief Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir questioned the purpose of the trip by Yayasan Pembangunan Ekonomi Islam Malaysia (Yapeim) and Pemangkin, a development foundation for orphans and poor children, which he claimed was in conjunction with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s visit to New York in September.

“Is this trip truly organised by Yapeim and who are the individuals who went to New York?

“Was it necessary for Yapeim to make the trip with the prime minister when it is a charity organisation and not a government agency?” he asked during a press conference at NOW’s office in Sungai Besi.

He said during the trip from September 17 to 27 last year, the YaPEIM spent RM101,720 while Pemangkin spent RM66,960, totaling to RM168,680.

Akmal also claimed that the trip was allegedly to hand over US$500 to each of 10 participants, the purpose of which he said could not be verified.

The PKR leader also demanded to know the number of trips abroad that have been organised with Yapeim’s funds from 2013, the cost of each trip and other relevant details.

Akmal also said those currently in charge of Yapeim should be taken off duty immediately to facilitate investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

NOW has been running a series of what it asserts are exposés on alleged power abuse by Yapeim. In its first few exposés, the group put the salaries and allowances paid to Yapeim’s chairman and deputy, a Wanita Umno leader, under the spotlight.

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 the minister in charge of Islamic affairs.