Gov't Will Not Compromise On Misuse of Zakat Funds - Mohd Na'im

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- The government will not compromise on any form of misconduct, corruption, or abuse of power, especially those involving funds entrusted for the welfare of Muslims, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.

He said there had been no attempts to protect any individuals involved in the alleged misappropriation of zakat funds, and firm action would be taken in accordance with existing rules and laws.

“Funds entrusted for the welfare of the Muslim ummah must be managed with integrity, trust, and transparency. I have taken note of reports regarding allegations of abuse of power and misappropriation in the management of zakat aid under one of the religious agencies.

“I was informed that an internal investigation has been initiated and an official report has been lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to ensure the investigation is carried out independently and thoroughly,” he said in a statement on his official Facebook page today.

Mohd Na’im also expressed appreciation to individuals and members of the public who bravely came forward to report such misconduct, describing their courage as a reflection of shared integrity that should be emulated.

He also urged the public to promptly lodge reports with the authorities if they were aware of any form of misappropriation or abuse of power, assuring that every complaint would be investigated seriously without compromise.

At the same time, he reminded all agencies under the Religious Affairs portfolio not to betray the trust placed in them, as failure to uphold integrity would not only tarnish the reputation of the institutions but also erode public confidence in religious bodies.

According to him, the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) would continue to work closely with the MACC and other enforcement agencies to ensure firm action was taken against any parties found guilty.

Yesterday, the MACC reportedly detained a former employee of a statutory body on suspicion of being involved in a syndicate misappropriating zakat allocations totalling about RM120,000 involving 28 ineligible applicants.

The woman, in her 30s, was arrested while giving her statement at the Kuala Lumpur MACC office, before the Magistrate’s Court granted a four-day remand order until this Wednesday to assist investigations under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009.

-- BERNAMA