Unauthorised NGO could be linked to Daesh - Ayob Khan

The mushrooming of unauthorised non-governmental organisations in donation drives lately could be linked to Daesh militant groups that collect funds to finance their activities.

Bukit Aman Counter Terrorism Special Branch principal assistant director Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the funds gathered were believed to be used to spread their ideologies and propaganda, apart from financing Daesh activities in Syria.

"There is a possibility that the funds they (unknown NGO) collected could be channeled there (Syria) and they need to be scrutinised as there were several such cases since.

"Those who want to collect donations for humanitarian purposes need to be registered and recognised before any donation collection can begin," he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama.

Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah Malaysia (Aswaja) president Dr Zamihan Mat Zin concurred with Ayob Khan.

He proposed that NGOs be required to have a police permit to collect donation.

"After obtaining a permit from police, they need to declare the funds collected to the police. Currently, anybody can start collecting donation without their background being known," he said.

Meanwhile, Institute of Islamic Strategic Studies Malaysia senior fellow Engku Ahmad Fadzil Engku Ali suggested that the government set up an official account such as Bank Negara for such NGOs to channel their funds.

"The official account would function as the official channel for humanitarian causes.

"This is to prevent unregistered or unknown NGOs from taking advantage by abusing the collected funds for militant activities," he said.