Will Ahmad Zahid reject illegal donations based on his faith?

Question

Accepted Answer

As a Muslim, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stated he would reject donations if he knew they originated from illegal sources.

Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the Umno president, testified in the High Court that his religious beliefs would compel him to refuse any donation if he was aware of its illicit origins. This stance was articulated during his ongoing corruption trial, where he faces allegations of receiving RM21.25 million in bribes. Ahmad Zahid specifically addressed RM10 million in purported donations channelled through businessman Paul Wong to his charity, Yayasan Akalbudi, asserting his belief that these funds did not stem from illegal activities.
Stance on Receiving Donations

Ahmad Zahid affirmed that his Muslim faith dictates his approach to accepting donations. He stated that if he were aware that a donation originated from an illegal source, he would certainly reject it, describing this as his firmly held belief or "pegangan". This principle was presented as the basis for his assessment of the RM10 million in question.
Circumstances of the RM10 Million Donation

The former deputy prime minister was questioned about RM10 million in alleged donations received in 2016, which were channelled via 10 cheques into an account associated with Yayasan Akalbudi. Ahmad Zahid insisted that he believed these funds were not derived from illegal activities. He explained that the money came from a donor in Sarawak, and Paul Wong, a partner to that donor, used cheques to channel the funds, leading him to conclude they were not from "aktiviti haram atau sumber haram" (illegal activities or illegal sources).
Identity of the Donor and Payer

The RM10 million in cheques was issued by Chia Bee Enterprise Sdn Bhd, a company linked to the KTS Group from Sarawak. Ahmad Zahid indicated that Paul Wong acted as an intermediary, facilitating the transfer of these funds from a donor in Sarawak. He had previously stated his confidence that the RM10 million originated from business dealings and that he would not accept funds from gambling or gangsterism.
Ongoing Corruption Trial

Ahmad Zahid is currently facing 47 charges, encompassing criminal breach of trust, money-laundering, and bribery. Twelve counts relate to alleged criminal breach of trust involving RM31 million from Yayasan Akalbudi's funds, 27 counts of money-laundering, and eight counts of bribery concerning RM21.25 million in alleged bribes. Three of the money-laundering charges specifically involve the RM10 million in cheques from Chia Bee Enterprise.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Will Ahmad Zahid reject illegal donations based on his faith?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends