Several top guns from the scandal-mired Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation (Yapeim) who were targeted by the National Oversight and Whistleblowers (NOW) have resigned from Yapeim's subsidiary companies.

NOW director Akmal Nasir lauded the resignations but noted the individuals still retained their positions on the Yapeim board of trustees.

"The resignations have not restored the morals and integrity of Yapeim," Akmal said in a statement today.

Yapeim chief executive officer Abibullah Samsudin on Wednesday announced that the foundation's president Awang Malek Awang Kechil and deputy president Siti Zaleha Hussin have resigned from all their positions in Yapeim subsidiary companies

However, they remain president and deputy president of Yapeim respectively and retain their positions on its board.

Siti Zaleha's husband, Ismail Mat Nasib, also resigned from his position in a Yapeim subsidiary company.

Abibullah ( photo ) said this followed Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's instruction for a task force led by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki to improve Yapeim's governance.

In a series of exposes, which included claims of cronyism, NOW said Zaleha, together with her husband and son, were appointed to Yapeim subsidiary companies and were collectively earning RM81,700 a month.

Akmal said while Zaleha's husband has resigned from his position, questions remained about the position of her son Wan Johan Wan Ismail, who he claimed held some six positions in Yapeim.

Nonetheless, Akmal said the actions proved that NOW's expose was with merit and highlighted other issues that needed to be addressed.

Expenditure increase

Akmal pointed out that Yapeim's financial statement ending Dec 31, 2013, showed the board of trustees' expenses to be at RM498,725 in 2012 and RM665,316 in 2013.

He pointed out that Yapeim's financial statement ending Dec 31, 2014, and financial estimates for 2015, however, showed the expenses of the board of trustees to be at RM2,617,264 in 2014 and an estimated RM3.5 million in 2015.

"This shows the board of trustees' expenditure has increased by seven-fold in just three years.

"Even though there has been a new 'panel' in the expenditure board between 2013 and 2014, what were these new positions created and who are benefiting from them?

"Why was the fixed and attendance allowance for 2012 and 2013 around RM300,000 but increased to RM1.76 million in 2014 and is estimated to be at RM2.26 million in 2015?" Akmal asked.

He also questioned whether Yapeim's expenditure on food and ceremonies, which was at RM3,608 in 2013 did indeed jump 55-fold to RM201,960 in 2015.

Akmal said these matters should be looked into by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom, who oversees Yapeim.

He reiterated that any alleged Yapeim wrongdoing would be Jamil Khir's responsibility as he was in charge of appointing its board members.