Aman Palestin probe: MACC looking into short-term expenses and funds allegedly given to other firms
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian
Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is looking into the revenue expenditures of
charitable NGO Aman Palestin Bhd.
It
is also looking at the expenses of various companies – among them a tour and
travel agency, a shooting academy and a gold mining firm – that allegedly
received funds meant for the Palestinian people, a well-placed source says.
The source said others thought to have
received the funds include a tech company, a research centre and a media
agency, none of which had any direct connection with aid for Palestinians.
These
companies were allegedly run from the public donations received, the source
said, adding that public donations handed to Aman Palestin were allegedly used
to buy gold, cryptocurrency, properties and land.
"From
the account books of Aman Palestin, it was found that operations and management
fees were over RM400,000 per month.
"MACC
is also looking at the leakages and exactly how much was actually channelled to
help those really in need in Palestine," the source added.
The MACC launched its
probe of Aman Palestin in October following a report by a news portal that many
stakeholders were dissatisfied with the NGO's approach in overseeing donation
collections.
On Nov 23, the MACC said over RM25mil in
42 bank accounts under the NGO had been frozen following an investigation into
allegations that it misused public funds.
On
Oct 27, Aman Palestin gave the MACC three days to unfreeze its accounts or a
legal suit would be filed.
In
response, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the MACC was prepared
to reveal to the courts its justification for freezing the accounts.
When
contacted, Aman Palestin Berhad's lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali declined
to comment on the ongoing investigation.
“We
respect the powers possessed by the MACC in conducting the investigation,” he
said when contacted.
Muhammad
Rafique, however, stressed that releasing RM10mil in winter aid would help the
NGO continue to assist Palestinians in the ongoing conflict.
Sumber : The Star
