KOTA KINABALU, Nov 5 — The investigation into the alleged transfer of RM14 million within the Sabah Islamic Religious Council (Muis) must be expanded beyond mere claims of “governance improvement”, said Umno Sabah Strategic Communications Director Datu Rosman Datu Ahir Zaman.
He said the matter was not a small issue or a technical mistake that could be dismissed with administrative explanations, as it involves the trust and management of zakat funds belonging to the Muslim community that must be handled transparently and in accordance with Islamic principles and the law.
“I believe the scope of investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) must be widened to include a comprehensive forensic audit of all Muis financial records, bank transactions, internal directives and meeting minutes,” he said in a statement, Tuesday.
Rosman also urged MACC to publicly clarify the governance issues it reportedly identified in the management and distribution of Muis zakat funds, as mentioned in the nine recommendations submitted to the relevant authorities recently.
When Sabah officially took charge of its own electricity and gas regulation under the present Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Government in 2023 and 2024, it was a turning point few expected would happen so swiftly.
He said such clarification is vital to prevent public confusion and to safeguard the integrity of the state’s Islamic institution.
At the same time, Rosman questioned the progress of investigations into claims that the Muis official instructed the transfer of RM14 million from the Zakat Fund to the General (Management) Fund without the Majlis’ approval.
“While Muis has denied the allegation, calling it a malicious lie aimed at tarnishing its image, MACC cannot stop at denials alone.
“A full forensic review of Muis’ financial affairs must be conducted to confirm or refute the allegations based on evidence, not perception,” he said.
He pointed out that RM14 million is not a small amount, representing nearly 10 percent of Muis’ total zakat collection of RM141 million last year.
“Every sen belongs to the asnaf eligible to receive zakat aid. This issue cannot be taken lightly, as it directly affects public trust in the management of Islamic funds in Sabah,” he said.
Datu Rosman emphasised that transparency in the investigation is both a moral duty and a religious obligation.
“The people do not need excuses, they need explanations. They don’t want promises of ‘improvement’, they want real answers on who gave the order, who approved it, and where the RM14 million went,” he said.
Earlier, Rumpun Anak Melayu (Presbah) President Yahya Ahmad also called on Muis to explain to zakat payers, especially since the matter involves ummah funds.
He said he went to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office to request an investigation into possible violations and for appropriate action to be taken if any wrongdoing is found.
“What is happening now is a court case that has not yet begun. When it does, the defendant may reveal procedural breaches that could strengthen their case and prove they are ready to be held accountable,” he said.
He expressed disappointment that the long-standing issue was not resolved earlier and that Muis could not address the matter through internal disciplinary measures.
“If the official concerned was indeed in the wrong, he could have been suspended or dismissed without dragging the matter to court.”
Yahya questioned how much Muis funds would now be wasted on legal costs for suing its own staff. He said the legal action would not happen without concrete evidence or detailed transaction records.
He said this was a major weakness in Islamic institutions, which could tarnish public trust in Muis and Islam itself.
“If it is true there were early procedural breaches, what is the ruling when zakat funds were misused or spent without proper authorization? The Mufti, as Chairman of the Zakat and Fitrah Committee, should clarify this,” he said.
Yahya also questioned the efficiency of the Ministry and Muis’ top management in addressing the issue.
“Muslims have the right to speak up and demand explanation when it concerns zakat funds. The reported transfer of RM14.4 million allegedly without the knowledge of the Muis Supreme Council (MTM) and the Zakat Committee must be explained,” he said. — Daily Express
