KUALA LUMPUR – A Johor state executive council member has joined the chorus of voices urging the public to ensure their donations for the Palestinian people are channelled through reliable humanitarian aid drives.
In a Facebook video posted by Media Digital Johor, the state’s media, state exco for Islamic religious affairs Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid, called on donors to contribute to the Palestinian humanitarian trust account overseen by the Foreign Ministry.
“I’d like to urge Johoreans and the public as a whole to continue channelling their donations to the Akaun Amanah Kemanusiaan Rakyat Palestin under the Foreign Ministry instead of through any organisation or individual that claims to have access to Gaza or the West Bank.
“I’d advise to follow proper procedures so that the funds donated reach Palestinians in need.”
Fared’s reminder comes amid embattled non-governmental organisation (NGO) Aman Palestin Bhd planning to initiate legal action against the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in a bid to unfreeze 41 bank accounts amounting up to RM15.8 million associated with the fundraising organisation.
In a Facebook post today, Aman Palestin doubled down on its demands for the MACC to unfreeze RM10 million of its funds so humanitarian aid can be channelled to Palestine, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon.
According to the organisation, the funds would have benefitted 80,260 families by providing food, heaters and kerosene, winter equipment, as well as clinical supplies.
On October 20, the anti-graft agency announced its probe into Aman Palestin based on information reported in the media, with its chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki saying that there was no need for the commission to have waited for a report to be filed.
A 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.
Previously, Perlis Mufti Datuk Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin wrote a letter to the Perlis Islamic 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 3, 2023