The National Oversight & Whistleblowers (NOW) centre claims Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom is directly responsible for appointing two individuals to the board of trustees of an Islamic government-linked foundation that is now under financial scrutiny.

NOW director Akmal Nasir cited a letter from Jamil Khir addressed to the foundation's patron, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, seeking approval to appoint the two individuals, along with 10 others, to the board for the period Jan 1, 2014, to Dec 31, 2016.

Akmal has also obtained a letter in which Jamil Khir appointed one of the individuals as the foundation's chairperson-cum-president.

The second individual mentioned by Akmal ( photo ) in today's expose is the foundation's deputy chairperson-cum-deputy president.

The duo, along with the deputy chairperson's son and husband, allegedly earn almost RM2 million a year from various positions they hold within the foundation and its subsidiaries.

The foundation, which is supposed to uplift the Muslim economy and carry out charitable programmes, receives funding from public contributions, as well as government grants and loans.

"Is Jamil Khir prepared to admit that there has been breach of trust, leakages and abuse of power within the (foundation) as he was the minister in charge and all those in the board of trustees were appointed on his advice?" Akmal asked in a statement today.

Will Jamil Khir ask for their sacking?

He also asked if Jamil Khir would ask Najib to sack the chairperson and deputy chairperson.

Meanwhile, The Malaysian Insider reported that while the foundation is under the Prime Minister's Department's purview, Jamil Khir did not have power over the foundation.

"The foundation is free. It has its own board. The minister (Jamil Khir) does not have power over the board," the portal quoted Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki as saying.

Malaysiakini has contacted Jamil Khir and is awaiting a response.

On Monday, Akmal claimed that the deputy chairperson, who is a Kelantan Wanita Umno member, had allegedly received RM223,000 from the foundation for community activities that coincided with the Rompin by-election.

However there is reportedly no record of any activities taking place.

It was previously reported that a Kelantan Umno member and the foundation were being investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for misappropriating flood relief funds.

The Rompin by-election on May 5 ended in BN's favour, with the new MP, Hasan Arifin, now serving as the new Public Accounts Committee chairperson.

Malaysiakini is withholding the identities of the individuals involved and the foundation, pending their responses to our queries.

Meanwhile, two DAP lawmakers had expressed their shock over Akmal's revelations.

Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari said the foundation had tarnished the good name of Islam.

"It's clear that the name of Islam in this country is tarnished by institutions and religious agencies that not only swindle funds and don't take care of the welfare of Muslims, but are more interested in being moral police and organising 'religious' events," Zairil said in a statement.

He called for the government to reshuffle the foundation's management to remove those who had misappropriated funds, and to make the foundation more professional.

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng in his statement called on those who allegedly misused the foundation for their personal gains to repent.

"I feel responsible to advise those who are living in comfort from charitable Muslim donations to repent and cleanse the income they've received through dubious means," Lim said.