National Oversight and Whistle-blower director Akmal Nasir says he has proof that Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom used funds earmarked for orphans for a trip to the United States last year. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Wan Asraf, November 14, 2015.Akmal Nasir, the director of anti-corruption group National Oversight and Whistle-blower (NOW), said today he would not apologise nor retract the accusations made against a federal minister for allegedly using donations meant for orphans to fund a trip to the United States last year.
Akmal said he was not afraid of Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom’s threat to sue him, adding that the minister had every right to take legal action.
“I am not the one who took the money. I would not know what I was apologising for. That is why I have come forward to ask Jamil why he used the money,” he told reporters at the NOW office in Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur, today.
“Like I said, Jamil Khir has to explain. If he wants to sue in court, it is his right but I repeat that as a minister, he has a responsibility to come clean about the money.”
Akmal said he was not merely accusing the minister but had proof to back the allegation.
“I don’t like to simply accuse but every proof… points to that way, and the people have a right to know where their money went.”
He was responding to Jamil Khir's demand that Akmal apologise and retract the allegations.
Akmal, who is also Johor Baru PKR information chief, said the minister had not come forward to deny the evidence or documents that were presented and did not answer the main question if he had used the money to fund his trip to the US.
“In fact, in his statement, Jamil Khir confirmed that he did go to the US from May 21 to May 29, 2014 allegedly for duties and responsibilities as minister in the prime minister's department,” he said.
He said Jamil Khir's lack of explanation on the allegations has raised several questions. He did not shed light on his entourage's visit to the Leesburg Corner Premium Outlet for four days.
“What is the rationale in organising a Family and Marriage Symposium that cost half a million ringgit, using Yapeim's (Yayasan Pembangunan Ekonomi Islam Malaysia) money, with only 100 participants.
“According to Yapeim papers, Pemangkin claimed a RM590,000 payment. Why is Yapeim involved in organising Jamil Khir's programme to the US and why didn't he use allocations from the ministry?” he said.
In his latest expose today, Akmal said through the documents, the minister only attended the closing ceremony of the event.
The total cost approved by Yapeim for the programme was RM590,000, more than the original estimate of RM410,978.56, he added.
Akmal, in a press conference yesterday, accused Yapeim of funding Jamil Khir's US trip last year using cash from donations meant for orphans.
The entourage, which allegedly included his wife, visited Washington DC, Minnesota and Iowa.
Akmal said the eight-day trip included activities such as golfing, shopping and a trip to an outlet that sold luxury items in Washington DC.
Responding to the allegations, Jamil Khir issued a statement last night denying them, calling them slanderous and misleading.
He said the visit last year was made in his official capacity, and it was spent attending events organised by agencies under his purview.
The minister also demanded that Akmal and The Malaysian Insider, which reported the expose but had not named the minister, retract the allegations and issue a public apology within 24 hours, failing which, he would initiate a defamation suit against both parties. – November 14, 2015.
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