Govt to intensify training for Muslim NGOs to ensure proper financial management - Zulkifli

KLUANG - The government will enhance and expand governance guidance and training programmes for Muslim non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to ensure more professional and transparent financial management.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan said efforts will be intensified under the initiative launched last year to ensure each NGO has a deeper understanding of proper financial management and governance.

He said that although the matter falls outside the ministry’s jurisdiction, it would continue to take proactive step to empower the organisations involved.

"Since last year, we have been providing guidance, training and courses to these Muslim NGOs to strengthen their governance and management, including financial procedures.

"We will hold engagement and further intensify (the implementation). The initiative will also be expanded to ensure our NGOs are professional and well-versed in good governance and best practices," he told a press conference after attending the Malaysia MADANI Understanding Seminar at the National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN) Southern Regional Campus here yesterday.

Earlier, the media reported that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had arrested three individuals, including a deputy chairman of an NGO, to assist in investigations into the alleged misappropriation of RM230 million in public donation funds.

Following this, on April 24, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reportedly called for stricter regulations to control and monitor the spending of charitable bodies and NGOs to prevent misconduct and misappropriation.

Responding on the case involving fraudulent haj permit offers and hotel business arrangements in Makkah, which resulted in losses of RM415,000 and was reported yesterday, Zulkifli said the government has launched a special campaign to address such issues.

According to him, the ‘No Visa, No Haj’ campaign was launched by Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) to safeguard the interests, safety and welfare of Malaysian pilgrims, while also combating fraud and ensuring compliance with regulations set by the Saudi Arabian government.

Commenting on today’s programme, Zulkifli said it aims to strengthen civil servants’ understanding of the Malaysia MADANI concept and its implementation through an integrated approach encompassing nationhood, Islamic values and the reinforcement of national unity.

He said the programme, a joint initiative between INTAN, Akademi Kenegaraan Malaysia, Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia and Wadah Pencerdasan Umat Malaysia, successfully brought together 700 civil servants from Johor, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan. - BERNAMA