Fanbase pray for pious, soft-spoken @ustazlah’s innocence in RM12.3m graft ordeal

 

I BELIEVE this ustaz is innocent because the way he presents live everyday looks sincere, not the money-crazy type.

Don’t simply accuse him of being guilty just because he got caught for nowadays slander is widespread; let’s try to give him benefit of the doubt first.

People who like to siphon money usually sit behind the scene, not one who sits in in front like him.

Such is the reaction on the Threads platform from a follower of independent preacher and popular religious influencer on TikTok, Abdullah Abdol Razak (@Ustazlah), who has been remanded for five days until Sunday (April 26) to assist investigations into an alleged misappropriation of about RM12.3 mil in funds belonging to an NGO.

That his identity has been upheld by the authorities has not deterred his fanbase from identifying Abdullah as the suspect who was arrested about 8pm on Tuesday (April 21) when he turned up to give his statement at the Negeri Sembilan Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office.

News of Abdullah’s arrest came soon after the MACC Selangor branch arrested two company directors and an NGO deputy chairman over RM230 mil zakat (tithe) fund misappropriation on Tuesday (April 21).

Following this, the NGO deputy chairman and another suspect, both aged 57 and 61, were remanded for four days by the Shah Alam Magistrate’s Court to assist in investigations into the alleged zakat fund embezzlement.

The above wishful thought for Abdullah was in response to a post by market trainer Izzuddin Radzi who lamented how a person’s look can be so deceptive.

“People believe in clothes image, title, way of speaking but the ultimate truth is that integrity can’t be faked,” observed the poster who is also a self-proclaimed wealth advisor and professional fund manager.

“Power & trust aren’t an advantage but a test … Many want to be influential but unwilling to keep the trust. A mask can protect the image but eventually the truth shall prevail.”

Echoing a similar sentiment, another Threads user Azree Kamarulzaman expressed shock as to how “a name that always appears on TikTok has been linked to a big case like this”.

“When we watched his preaching videos, we felt calm. But after reading this news, there’s a different feeling. RM12.3 MILLION is not a small sum,” quipped the digital creator from Bangi.

To recap, initial investigations revealed that the popular freelance preacher is believed to have committed the offences between September 2022 and now by abusing his position and conspiring with two other committee members of his NGO.

“He is suspected of transferring approximately RM12.3 mil into his personal bank account as well as into eight company accounts believed to be linked to him,” the MACC source pointed out.

Following its probe, the graft buster agency had frozen 15 bank accounts comprising three personal accounts, three NGO accounts and nine company accounts with a total value of about RM16.5 mil.

Authorities also seized various assets, including RM6,576 in cash, foreign currency comprising 95,568 Saudi riyal and S$795 as well as luxury items such as watches, handbags and jewellery.

Also confiscated were gold items, including 51 one-gram gold bars estimated to be worth about RM31,000.

Negri Sembilan MACC director Awgkok Ahmad Taufik Putra Awg Ismail who confirmed the arrest said the case is being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 which carries up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of at least five times the gratification value or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

In all fairness, every religion has culprits who tarnish the image of their faiths by violating their leadership stature for the same applies to monks, priests or swami. –  Focus Malaysia