Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom has denied the allegation that he used money from the tithes collection to renovate his house in Kampung Batu Muda, Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur.

He said the renovations of on his house, where he and his family had been living in since 1994, were paid for with his own money and he described the allegation as a “desperate political” move.

“Before this I was not unemployed. My last post in the military was as a major-general with a pension and gratuity, but not up to RM1 million. So, it is improbable that a major-general cannot afford a house,” he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur after chairing the State Islamic Religious Council Congress meeting today.

Jamil Khir said that the extension of his home was due to the increasing number of people in his family, including his parents and six children.

“(I bought) the house (using) government loan in 1994, it is not settled yet, (you) can check and it is long before I became a minister,” he said, adding that he was willing to swear to prove that he did not use tithes money to buy the house.

    

The Malaysia Today news portal had published a picture of Jamil Khir’s home yesterday, alleging that it was worth millions of ringgit.

In the report, PKR Youth deputy chief Khairul Anuar Ahmad Zainuddin had challenged the minister to explain how he could afford such a home after three years in office with a monthly salary of not more than RM15,000.

On the congress, Jamil Khir said the two-day meeting would be held on Sept 26 and officially opened by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin at the Putra World Trade Centre.

He said the congress was expected to attract about 1,000 participants from various agencies and individuals, including the State Islamic Councils and the State Fatwa Councils.  

- Bernama