In the latest in a series of alleged abuse of funds exposes, NGO National Oversight and Whistleblowers (NOW) now wants to know whether Yayasan Pembangunan Ekonomi Islam Malaysia (Yapeim) was involved in a trip to New York.
This was after the foundation, according to NOW director Akmal Nasir, had confirmed trips made to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Washington DC, Iowa and Minnesota as well as Paris.
Citing documents which allegedly showed that Yapeim was involved in the trip to New York, Akmal said Yapeim was involved in the Program Kembara Santun in conjunction with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s visit to the US last year.
The programme, which costs approximately RM100,000, was purportedly held between Sept 17, 2014 and Sept 27, 2014, involving 100 participants in New York.
Akmal in a statement today said Yapeim had spent RM101,720 for the trip while Yayasan Pembangunan Anak Yatim/Miskin (Pemangkin) had spent RM66,960.
He therefore urged Yapeim to confirm whether the trip had occurred or otherwise and to name those who were involved in the trip.
“Is there a need for Yapeim to be together with the prime minister in New York when it is an agency that is based on amal jariah and is not a government department?
“How many overseas trips have Yapeim been involved in for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015?” he further asked.
MACC probe
Akmal also said he welcomed the MACC's statement that it will investigate the matter, saying that it is a good start.
“To give space to the MACC to conduct investigations, those involved should be put on leave immediately and should not be in contact with any Yapeim officers until investigations are concluded," he said.
Akmal also suggested that the administration of Yapeim be reorganised, including those appointed as board of trustee members.
Yapeim has been making headlines for the past two weeks following Akmal’s exposes of alleged misappropriation of funds and excessive allowance payments to its top management personnel.
Malaysiakini has contacted Yapeim for a response on the latest expose.
