The Malaysian Oversight and Whistleblowers (NOW) has alleged that the Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation (Yapeim) owns a golf simulator at a training centre.
NOW director Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir questioned the need for Yapeim to own a golf simulator when the core business of the government-owned charitable foundation was to help the needy.
He made the allegation at a press conference today based on two documents – Yapeim's 2014 financial statement and its 2013 budget – and NOW's visit to the training centre in Petaling Jaya.
"The 2013 budget showed that Yapeim's Corporate Sports Club had conducted eight golf activities with its staff and other agencies," he said.
"The other (golf activity) was to establish an 'Input Golf Simulator Sport Centre' as the operator of corporate sports programme for Yapeim," read the 2013 budget report.
Input, or Institut Penyelidikan dan Perundingan Yapeim Sdn Bhd, is one of the six subsidiaries owned by Yapeim.
Input's main business was to provide training service, research, and consultation on various matters in accordance with modern management, based on Islamic guidelines for the benefit of the Muslim community.
The 2014 financial statement listed the golf simulator as one of the assets that had depreciated in value, according to Akmal.
Copies (of what is alleged to be the) financial statement and budget were distributed to reporters.
"Based on public information, NOW had visited the Input golf simulator sports centre," said Akmal.
He also showed a picture of the sport centre, which he claimed is located at Mentari Business Park (Bandar Sunway), a popular commercial centre.
The photograph also showed a signboard with the words "Input Golf Training Centre" and "owned by Input Yapeim".
He wants Yapeim to reveal the cost and how many simulators the foundation had bought and if they were genuine.
Malaysiakini has tried to contact Yapeim deputy president Zaleha Hussin for comment.
"How much did the simulator cost and what is the cost of its maintenance from the day of the purchase?
"Was it necessary to set up a golf simulator at the sports centre as stated in Yapeim's 2013 budget, whose purpose was to fulfil Yapeim's corporate sports programme?" he asked.
Akmal said it is nothing new for companies to have sports programmes, but the staff usually play badminton or squash.
"I personally don't know why corporate sports is specifically linked to golf. Maybe the intention is to form a golf team for tournament. Maybe, the plan is to raise fund through golf," he said.
'It is about public interest'
A check with the internet shows that a well-equipped golf simulator in the United States would cost US$100,000 (RM433,000), while a simple model would be priced at US$50,000, (RM216,000), he said.
According to Yapeim's 2013 budget report, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom, who oversees Yapeim, had attended a charity hi-tea golf programme at Kota Kinabalu.
A charity foundation needs to be managed with integrity, said Akmal.
Yapeim came under the spotlight after NOW made a series of exposé against it, alleging mismanagement and corruption.
This included the claim that Zaleha, her husband and son were appointed to several key positions in the foundation and its subsidiaries, giving them a joint income of RM81,700 a month.
Yapeim was also accused of using RM410,000 of funds from Pemangkin (Yayasan Pembangunan Anak Yatim/Miskin) to pay for Jamil's expenses and other costs for a trip to the US.
Jamil had filed a RM10 million defamation suit against Akmal last month.
NOW also claimed that RM490,000 was spent on a marriage course in Paris.
When asked about the reason for him to keep harping on the issue, Akmal said, "My main motivation is (concern for) the contributors; it involves half a million people."
"It is about public interest. It is a charitable organisation. Why can't you use the money for a better purpose - for those who need help?" he said.
"(Jamil) sues me, I will answer in court. But the people are not getting the answers. I feel the minister has jumped too soon; he should address the situation," he said. -Mkini
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