NOW - where is the RM223k given to Umno Datuk?

The National Oversight & Whistleblowers (NOW) centre wants to know what happened to the RM223,000 allegedly received by a Kelantan Umno member during the Rompin by-election.

The funds were allegedly from a government foundation under the purview of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom.

NOW director Akmal Nasir said the funds were meant for activities which coincided with the May by-election but there was no record of such activities taking place.

As such, he wants to know if it is true that the money was given to the Umno member, and if so what were the activities.

"I hope Najib and Jamil Khir can explain this," he said, and warned that NOW would make another expose if they do not.

NOW is an oversight body founded by PKR 's Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli.

'Used for election campaign?'

The money was supposed to be received by three Yayasan Pembangunan Anak Yatim/Miskin (Pemangkin) directors, but was instead received by the individual who is part of the Wanita Umno wing, he said.

The woman, who carries the honorific 'Datuk', received the payment in four tranches, from April 27 till May 2 during the Rompin by-election campaign period.

"It raises the question as to whether the money was used for the campaign," Akmal said.

The Election Act states that no more than RM200,000 can be used for an election campaign.

It was previously reported that a Kelantan Umno member and the foundation were being probed 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 new MP Hasan Arifin now serving as the Public Accounts Committee chairperson.

Malaysiakini is withholding the identities of the Kelantan Umno member and the foundation pending their responses.