PKR-linked NGO Jingga 13 today called on Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom and two others to apologise for “misappropriating” tithe ( zakat ) funds.

In a statement today, its secretary Saifuddin Shafi Muhamad said that if they do not do so the NGO will raise the matter with the Agong.

NONE “We urge Jamil Khir ( right ) and the two Federal Territories Islamic Department officers to apologise within 48 hours, or we will take the issue to the Agong, who is head of Islam in the nation,” he said.

He added that the act of abusing tithe funds disqualifies the minister from being in charge of Islamic affairs.

“The minister and the other two officers should resign if they are people with dignity and morals,” he said.

 

Jingga 13 had this morning lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission at its Shah Alam office on the matter.

“We hope a detailed investigation is carried out by the MACC,” he said.

Last week, an Audit Department report revealed that Jamil Kir, Federal Territories Islamic Department director Che Mat Che Ali and the department’s chief prosecutor Shamsuddin Hussain’s legal fees were paid by using tithe funds.

The trio were called as respondents in the qazaf case involving Permatang Pauh MP Anwar Ibrahim.

The report, however, stated that the RM63,650 was repaid when the Federal Territories Islamic Council (MAIWP) received a RM700,000 grant in June 2010, as general resources allocation from the government.

Several quarters have responded to this by saying that this does not absolve the trio from wrongdoing as there have been previous convictions against those who abused tithe funds, even though the amount taken was refunded.

MAIWP yesterday justified paying for the trio’s legal fees as they are civil servants.

‘Clarify issue or we’ll tell the cops, too’

However, PKR is still unsatisfied with the answers so far and issued an ultimatum to demand an explanation over several contradictions, or it would lodge a police report over the matter.

The party’s communications chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad cited Jamil Khir’s deputy Mashitah Ibrahim admitting that the legal fees were paid with zakat funds during the parliamentary debate for the Supplementary Supply Bill 2011 on June 21.

In addition, the trio’s lawyers had sought the Federal Territories mufti’s advice on using the funds for payment of their services on Jun 23, and the Audit Department had already confirmed the transaction.

Nik Nazmi wants Che Mat to address the validity of the procedures used since he was the same person who applied and approved the allocation for legal fees, and urged Jamil Khir to clarify the matter.

“I insisted yesterday that he (Jamil Khir) not hide behind civil servants. I was also made to understand that the former Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin had advised Jamil Khir to make an official statement,” said Nik Nazmi.

He said PKR would make the police report next week if it does not receive a satisfactory response by then.