Aman Palestin executive chairperson Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman has denied claims that Malaysian contributions to Palestine, made through NGOs, did not reach Palestinians.
According to him, the allegation arose as a result of its policy not to channel donations through the Palestinian Embassy in Malaysia, but instead directly to people in the troubled area.
“This issue comes from the source of the Palestinian Embassy in Malaysia. Many people do not understand and believe the claims, causing them to throw accusations and create suspicion of the NGOs, as if the money does not reach (the Palestinian people).
“Actually, it’s not that NGOs don’t send money. Malaysian NGOs, especially Aman Palestin, have been (channelling donations) for the past 18 years.
“We just do not channel it through the Palestinian Embassy in Malaysia,” Abdullah (above) said during a press conference at the Aman Palestin headquarters in Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor last night.
Also present at the press conference were Aman Palestin CEO Awang Suffian Awang Piut and the body’s lawyer, Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali.
Abdullah claimed that Malaysians themselves are not agreeable to the aid being channelled through the Palestinian Embassy in Malaysia.
He claimed the problems faced by Aman Palestin at the moment stemmed from the impression initiated by the Palestinian Embassy in Malaysia.
“This is a very sad tragedy because these accusations or false stories are turned into facts and legal actions are taken due to bad perceptions and are completely unfounded.
“This is one of the big problems that led to what is happening today,” he claimed.
Own office in Gaza
On Nov 21, Awang Suffian explained that since 2009, Aman Palestin opened its own office in Gaza and all aid and cash is given directly to the residents there and also in the West Bank.
The office acts as a collection centre for aid before it is distributed, he said as quoted by Astro Awani.
Earlier, the MACC froze 41 bank accounts belonging to Aman Palestin Berhad and other company entities involving money amounting to RM15 million.
The freeze was made in relation to the investigation into the misuse of donation money and was made under the MACC Act 2009, the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorist Financing, and Proceeds from Illegal Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA 2001), and the Penal Code (Act 574). - Mkini
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