GEORGE TOWN: Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid (pic), together with the Penang Islamic Religious Council (MAINPP) and Zakat MAINPP, has initiated legal action against individuals for allegedly spreading slanderous claims regarding the management of the state’s zakat funds.
Four individuals have been served letters of demand (LOD), namely political activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin, popularly known as Chegubard; Penang PAS information chief Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan; PAS deputy youth chief Muhammad Hafiz Alias; and PAS central committee member Mohd Yusni Mat Piah.
Mohamad, who is also the MAINPP president, said the action was taken to protect the reputation and integrity of Islamic religious institutions from being exploited to serve the political interests of certain parties.
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"I personally, together with MAINPP and Zakat MAINPP, have initiated legal proceedings against those who allegedly spread the statements," he told a press conference at the MAINPP office here on Friday (March 13).
The LOD requires the individuals to immediately cease spreading the material in question, issue a public apology, and provide an undertaking not to repeat or republish the allegations.
Mohamad said the action was also to clarify several allegations involving himself, MAINPP, and Zakat MAINPP, which were deemed malicious and false, including claims concerning zakat assistance provided to one Zamri Ahmad.
He explained that the individual in question had been registered as an Asnaf Miskin since August 2023, prior to his appointment as Deputy Chief Minister I and MAINPP president.
Mohamad further addressed the issue concerning the purchase of land involving lots 240, 264, and 265, Mukim 3, Seberang Perai Selatan, which had earlier drawn public scrutiny.
He said the proposed land acquisition, which began on Jan 15, 2021, went through multiple stages of evaluation, including an assessment by the Valuation and Property Services Department and review by the MAINPP development, land affairs and asset committee, before being approved by the relevant authorities.
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On claims of family appointments within the institution, Mohamad said the matter involved a transfer process under the public service scheme, carried out according to proper procedures, based on available job vacancies and approved by the relevant authorities.
He also rejected claims that his son had been awarded a zakat scholarship.
Mohamad’s lawyer Datuk Habib Rahman Seeni Mohideen said the four individuals had been given seven days to respond to all the demands, adding that court proceedings would follow if they failed to do so.
He said that in the next phase, legal action would be taken against several other individuals who had republished the same statement.
"We are identifying the individuals involved, including those using pseudonyms or hiding behind unregistered NGOs,” he said.
The Penang Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) opened an investigation paper at the end of January concerning the alleged misappropriation of zakat funds, after an assemblyman raised the matter during the state assembly sitting late last year.
A total of 63 people, including members of MAINPP, the state mufti, state government secretaries, financial officers, legal advisors, and agency officers and employees, have been summoned to record their statements to assist the investigation. – Bernama
