NOW goes on roadshow to expose YaPEIM

Roadshow kicks off tomorrow with a forum at the KL Chinese Assembly Hall featuring NGOs and Opposition leaders.

PETALING JAYA: The National Oversight and Whistleblowers Centre (NOW) will go on a peninsular-wide roadshow for their Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation (YaPEIM) exposé.

NOW director, Akmal Nasir, said that although the government agency had moved to sue him, he said YaPEIM had failed to respond or provide a “clear commitment” to reform its management of funds.

“Feedback received from many people, including contributors, show they are disappointed with those involved (in YaPEIM) who have not shown any sign of remorse to the caution given.”

“Every contributor, an estimated 588,930 of them, have a right to know their rights and the role that they can play to ensure that YaPEIM assists those who are truly in need,” he said in a statement today.

The roadshow kicks off tomorrow with a forum at the KL Chinese Assembly Hall featuring non-government organisations and Opposition leaders such as Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, Wan Ji Wan Hussin, Akmal, and human rights activist Syukri Razab. It promises to reveal new facts about YaPEIM’s misappropriation of funds.

Akmal, who is also PKR Johor Bahru chief, said the roadshow will head to Kedah, Perak, Johor and Pahang over the next two weeks.

YaPEIM is a charity set up by the Federal Government in 1976 and placed under the purview of the Prime Minister’s Department, with special attention from the minister in charge of Islamic affairs.

Last month, NOW alleged YaPEIM had misappropriated its funds and exposed the allowances of its chairman and deputy, both of whom are linked to Umno.

Minister in charge of Islamic affairs, Jamil Khir Baharom, has filed an RM10 million defamation lawsuit against Akmal. However, he has also formed a task force to oversee the governance of YaPEIM to address claims that the foundation had misappropriated funds.

Jamil Khir was also linked to alleged misuse of YaPEIM’s funds for a trip he made to the US last May and a wedding course in Paris.