An Umno minister's trip to the United States costing RM410,978 was allegedly paid for by Yayasan Pembangunan Ekonomi Islam Malaysia (Yapeim) through a subsidiary fund meant for orphans and poor children, the National Oversight and Whistleblowers (NOW) centre claims.

Citing invoices billed to Yayasan Pembangunan Anak Yatim/Miskin (Pemangkin) that it obtained, NOW’s director Akmal Nasir said the trip to Washington DC, Iowa and Minnesota from May 21 to 29, 2014, involved golf and trips to shopping malls.

Akmal said the minister's wife was also part of the entourage.

The invoices he obtained showed that RM274,493 was spent on the return tickets for the minister and his wife.

Other expenses spent on the minister include RM1,658.96 for golf, RM1,565.98 for a dinner function and RM3,200.72 for souvenirs.

Accommodation for the minister and his wife for three nights came to RM2,675.43.

"If the minister has any pride left, he should resign immediately. It doesn't matter who is responsible… the money used was money meant for orphans.

"Even if there were such programmes, when you use it for leisure, it's wrong," Akmal said.

This is NOW's fourth expose on Yapeim.

Malaysiakini is withholding the name of the minister until he responds to our queries.

Yapeim was quoted by Bernama as saying that it was prepared to face investigations over allegations of wrongdoing.

Yapeim director-general Abibullah Samsudin also stressed that the organisation upholds integrity and abides by Syariah principles.

Yesterday, it was reported that the foundation's chairperson and deputy chairperson were appointed by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom to Yapeim's board of trustees.

The duo, along with the deputy chairperson's husband and son, are reported to be earning almost RM2 million annually from the various positions they hold in Yapeim and its subsidiaries.

On Monday, Akmal claimed that Yapeim deputy chairperson, who is a Kelantan Wanita Umno member, had allegedly received RM223,000 from the foundation for community activities that coincided with the Rompin by-election.

However, there is reportedly no record of any activities taking place during the by-election.

It was previously reported that a Kelantan Umno member and the foundation were being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for misappropriating flood relief funds.

The Rompin by-election on May 5 ended in BN's favour, with the MP, Hasan Arifin, now serving as the new Public Accounts Committee chairperson.

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