The Islamist party’s youth wing pointed out that while the foundation, which is registered under the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP), had posted earnings of RM7.78 million that year, it only reported spending RM6.98 million.
“Where has the RM800,000 gone?” PAS Youth zakat task force director Kamaruzaman Mohamad told reporters at the party’s headquarters here.
Yayasan Taqwa, formed on November 20, 1990 and chaired by Jamil Khir, who is also federal minister for Islamic affairs, collects and disburses zakat (alms) to the needy.
Kamaruzaman also asked why Yayasan Taqwa had spent RM2 million, or 36 per cent of its full expenditure for 2010, on operational expenses when it was only manned by one general manager and 17 staff.
“Why only spend 64 per cent on zakat (disbursement)? This is money that should have gone to the needy,” he said.
Jamil Khir should appoint an independent body to audit Yayasan Taqwa’s accounts to ensure that funds meant for the poor have not been misused, Kamaruzaman also said.
“How can the expenses of a foundation that’s been given so much money not be checked? This allows room for abuse,” he warned.
Kamaruzaman added that PAS Youth will lodge reports with the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) if the minister does not respond promptly.
He also warned that the youth wing would reveal further discrepancies in Yayasan Taqwa as well as MAIWP if Jamil Khir keeps silent on the matter.
Opposition lawmakers have alleged that Jamil Khir and two MAIWP directors abused RM63,650 in zakat funds to pay for legal fees.
The costs were incurred when Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim named the trio as respondents in his qazaf application.
Jamil Khir and Datuk Che Met Che Ali, one of the MAIWP directors, have denied abusing the fund, pointing out that zakat funds may be used to pay for legal fees in cases where the foundation has to “defend the sovereignty and honour of an Islamic institution”.
