YaPEIM has no misappropriation issues, only negative perception by some - Asyhaf Wajidi

There is no misappropriation of funds in the Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation (YaPEIM), instead the agencies is in the limelight because of the negative perception by some quarters.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Senator Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said this can be seen based on the agency's audit report, which does not show any element of fraud.

YaPEIM has been in the limelight for the past week over allegations involving abuse of fund and excessive salaries paid out to its top management.

He also pointed out that the minister had no power in YaPEIM's operations because everything was subject to its management and the agency's board of trustees.

"So the minister or deputy minister has no power to intervene unless we feel there is some form of abuse, and in this case there was no fraud but the issue of perception. But we'll see if there are any issues of governance.

"But as ministers and deputy ministers, we only see the audit report, we would not want to be dragged into YaPEIM's daily affairs,or want to see what its chief executive officer, president or the board of directors are doing, must understand the concept of governance," he said when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2016 at the committee stage in Dewan Rakyat.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Jamil Khir Baharom has been accused of misappropriating and deviating funds from Amal Jariah (Salary Deduction Scheme).

Director / Group Chief Executive Officer of YaPEIM, Datuk Abibullah Samsudin in a press statement today said YaPEIM and individuals affected by these allegations would take legal action in the near future.

The sitting will resume tomorrow.