This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on November 16, 2015.

PUTRAJAYA: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom has once again demanded an apology from Akmal Nasir, failing which he would initiate legal action against the National Oversight and Whistleblowers Centre (NOW) director.

Jamil Khir had previously given Akmal 24 hours to apologise for alleging that the minister had used funds meant for orphans for his trip, with an entourage, to the United States in 2014.

Akmal ignored the demand and yesterday, after lodging a police report against him at the Putrajaya district police headquarters, Jamil Khir said a letter of demand will be sent to Akmal latest by Thursday if an apology is not forthcoming.

“It’s a very serious allegation, and I see it as ruining my integrity and credibility as a minister,” he told reporters after lodging the police report.

“I have lodged a police report and instructed my lawyer to initiate legal proceedings against the NOW director for such a malicious slander against me,” he added.

Akmal had alleged that Jamil Khir and his entourage misused RM500,000 of funds meant for orphans under Yayasan Pembangunan Ekonomi Islam (Yapeim) during the trip to the US.

“I will explain everything in court. I will see you in court,” Jamil Khir said, referring to Akmal.

Akmal also alleged that the funds were used, among others, for a golfing trip and four trips to a luxurious mall in Washington.

Earlier yesterday, Akmal himself lodged a police report regarding the misuse of the funds at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters.

After failing to obtain an explanation from Jamil Khir, Akmal said he felt the time was right for him to bring the matter to the authorities, so that an investigation can be carried out.

Meanwhile, when asked if legal action would be taken against The Malaysian Insider for reporting the allegations as mentioned in his statement last Friday, Jamil Khir said the matter would be looked into by his lawyer.

Jamil Khir’s lawyer, Adenan Seman Abdullah, said the letter of demand may be sent out as early as today.

He said due to the personal nature of the allegations, a legal action is “appropriate”.

“Akmal is accusing my client of misusing the money, even though all the events that took place there were organised by Yapeim,” he said. — The Malaysian Insider