KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will not be releasing the RM10 million of Aman Palestin Bhd funds to the Palestinians as investigations into the veracity of the previous transactions and claims are ongoing.
“With regards to the Aman Palestin accounts that have been frozen, MACC is still investigating the veracity of the previous transactions and claims.
“In view of this, MACC cannot simply release the funds until all investigations are completed and clarity is obtained over the accountable use of public donations amounting to millions.
“As the main anti-corruption enforcement body, the MACC views this case seriously as it is a matter of public interest and will likely set a precedent on how public donations can and cannot be used,” said MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.
Azam’s response came after former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday that the anti-graft agency should allow Aman Palestin to channel RM10 million in its frozen accounts to Gaza as winter hits the Arabian Peninsula.
“MACC can send their officers with Aman Palestin representatives to ensure that the money goes to the Palestinian people. By not allowing the RM10 million to be released, MACC is abusing the Palestinian people who are suffering from the atrocities perpetrated by Israel.”
The tug of war between Aman Palestin and MACC started on October 20, when the graftbusters announced their probe into the organisation based on information reported in the media.
A recent search of the premises to seize financial and operational management documents for the past five years also led to findings that some RM70 million had been allegedly misappropriated or diverted for purposes other than the charity’s objectives.
The RM70 million was said to have been used to buy gold, property, and make cash investments.
Aman Palestin had issued a three-day ultimatum on November 27 for MACC to unfreeze its bank accounts. Azam said the agency is ready to justify the freeze order in court.
Azam, responding to Aman Palestin’s ultimatum, said the organisation – which was being investigated for misappropriating funds collected for the Palestinian cause – was welcome to sue the anti-graft agency if it wanted.
In a press conference on November 27, Aman Palestin insisted that the funds collected had reached their targeted recipients and were merely not channelled through the Palestine embassy here.
In response, ambassador Walid Abu Ali told Scoop that the embassy here coordinates with the Malaysian Foreign Ministry and its humanitarian mission, Ops Ihsan, to facilitate aid to Gaza via Egypt’s Al-Arish Airport – one of the closest airports to the Gaza Strip.
He added that the Egyptian Red Crescent Society is involved in efforts to facilitate the handing over of donations to Palestinians.
Aman Palestin had also accused MACC of maliciously attempting to tarnish the organisation’s image by freezing 41 accounts and investigating several related entities.
Previously, Perlis mufti Datuk Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin wrote a letter to the Perlis Islamic Religious Affairs Department against permitting Aman Palestin to collect funds in places of worship and relevant religious premises within the state.
The state religious authority then suspended fund collections by Aman Palestin in Perlis, effective October 12. – December 1, 2023