PAS Youth has demanded that Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom explain why RM800,000 of zakat (tithe) collection under Yayasan Taqwa in 2010 has not been accounted for in the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council’s (MAIWP) annual report.

According to MAIWP’s report, the foundation earned RM7.78 million that year, and spent RM6.98 million. However, there are no details on the remaining RM800,000, said the wing’s zakat task force director Kamaruzaman Mohamad.       

“Where is the RM800,000 that was not stated in the 2010 annual report?” questioned Kamaruzaman.

Yayasan Taqwa has also used up RM2 million or 36 percent of its annual expenditure on administrative costs, said Kamaruzaman, adding that the cost was “very high” for a foundation headed by one general manager and manned by 17 staff members.

NONE “Why only spend 64 percent (or RM4.98 million) on asnaf  (those entitled to zakat)? This money should have gone to many others who need help,” he said.

Jamil Khir ( right ) has been under fire since opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim named the minister and two MAIWP directors as respondents in his qazaf application.

The Audit Department confirmed that RM63,650 was withdrawn from the MAIWP tithe fund to settle the advance legal costs of Jamil Khir, Federal Territory Islamic Department director Che Mat Che Ali and its chief prosecutor Shamsuddin Hussain.

However, they denied the allegations but asserted that the funds can be used to pay for legal fees in cases where the foundation has to “defend the sovereignty and honour of an Islamic institution”.

An independent body should be appointed to audit Yayasan Taqwa’s accounts, urged Kamaruzaman, to resolve the doubts on the foundation’s expenses.

He also asked Jamil Khir to clarify the matter immediately, otherwise PAS Youth would be lodging reports with the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).