NGOs DENY RAISING FUNDS FOR AL AQSA
Groups want Palestinian envoy to provide proof of claim or issue apology
AGROUP of Malaysian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) active in fundraising for Palestinians clarified that it is not involved in any drive for the maintenance of Al Aqsa Mosque.
The NGOs — which include Muslim Care Malaysia, Viva Palestina Malaysia, Muslim Youth Movement Malaysia (Abim), Global Peace Mission, MyCARE, HALUAN Malaysia, Majlis Perundangan Pertubuhan Islam Malaysia, MEDICOM, Cakna Palestine and Malaysian Humanitarian Aid and Relief — held a joint press conference after a meeting at the Muslim Care office here yesterday.
Muslim Care Malaysia president Zulkifli Wahijan said it was illegal to do so because the maintenance of the mosque was under the purview of the Jordanian Waqf Ministry.
However, the donations collected in Malaysia for the Palestinians had reached their targeted recipients, including those living near Al Aqsa Mosque.
“Our organisations have been transparent about our money trail as we are required to send annual audit reports to the Registry of Societies or Registrar of Companies,” he said.
Zulkifli said the meeting was held in response to allegations by Palestinian ambassador to Malaysia Walid Abu Ali, who claimed that almost all donations from the country had failed to reach the Al Aqsa Mosque fund for years.
Walid had told the New Straits
Times that only donations raised by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) were accounted for.
Zulkifli said the NGOs were upset with the allegation and claimed that they had received a lot of queries from the public about alleged involvement in unscrupulous activities.
“The allegation taints our NGOs’ credibility.
“We urge the ambassador to provide proof or retract his statement and issue a public apology because we are not involved in raising funds for the mosque’s maintenance.”
Zulkifli said the NGOs had been raising funds to address the plight of Palestinians, including those living around the mosque.
He said the activities were often publicised on their social media sites and the NGOs would liaise with their counterparts abroad.
“We want this matter to be clarified as we are dealing with donations. We are also hoping to meet the ambassador soon.”
Zulkifli said for the past 17 years since Gaza was under siege by the Israeli regime, help had been channelled by Malaysian NGOs in the form of money, food, healthcare, breaking-of-fast events, besides donations for education and building infrastructure.
The New Straits Times contacted the ambassador yesterday and he said the money raised for the Al Aqsa Mosque had never reached its fund.