(Nov 12): Putrajaya today said an Islamic charity foundation under the Prime Minister's Department accused of misappropriation was an independent body that did not directly involve any minister.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said ministers also do not interfere in the management of the foundation, which has come under the spotlight of an anti-graft whistleblower group for various alleged offenses.

"It is true that it is under (our) supervision but remember, the foundation is independent. It has its own board. The minister has no power over the board. So we need to get information from the organisation itself," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.

The foundation is under the oversight of the minister in charge of Islamic affairs, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, who is also a minister in the Prime Minister's Department.

Earlier this week, anti-graft watchdog group National Oversight and Whistleblowers (NOW) revealed the foundation's involvement in channelling RM223,000 supposedly for community programmes in the Rompin by-election in May this year, that instead went to a Kelantan Wanita Umno leader.

The Wanita Umno leader has also been under investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for misappropriating flood relief funds held in trust by the same foundation for flood victims in Kelantan.

Yesterday, NOW alleged that the same foundation gave its top office bearers multiple positions, enabling them to earn huge amounts in allowances.

A family of three, where the wife held seven posts; the son six directorships and the husband a fellowship, took home RM81,700 a month, it revealed.

Asyraf said today the relevant parties would issue a statement soon and as such, it was unfair for him to respond to questions raised by NOW.

"The thing is now under MACC. Let the statement come from the institution first. I think maybe this evening or tomorrow morning they will issue a statement.

"This has gone viral today, so they should issue a statement as they are bound by their own trust deeds, and as such, it is inappropriate for others, including me, to make a statement.

"It's not fair if I don't know the matter and I have to make a statement. We need to get accurate information," he said. – The Malaysian Insider

* Editor's note: This article has been amended to correct a translation error that said Putrajaya was defending the charity foundation in question. The error is regretted.