(Nov 24): Two senior officials of the Malaysian Islamic Economic Development Foundation (Yapeim) have been ordered to go on leave pending investigations into the charity organisation, a source has said.

The source told The Malaysian Insider that the decision was made after Yapeim's board members met on Friday at Hotel Putra in Kuala Lumpur.

This was believed to be following National Oversight and Whistleblowers's (NOW) allegations that the charity misused its funds.

It was learnt that the meeting was chaired by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.

Local television station TV3 last night identified the two as Yapeim chairman Datuk Abdul Malek Awang Kechil and deputy chairman Datuk Siti Zaleha Hussin.

The Malaysian Insider had previously tried contacting the duo for comments but has yet to receive any reply.

NOW director Akmal Nasir's allegations have forced Yapeim to explain itself to nearly 3,000 contributors of its "Amal Jariah" fund, who have terminated their monthly subscription through salary deduction to the foundation.

Yapeim director-general said the agency believed the contributors would resume their subscription once the allegations were proven to be untrue.

"We will send press statements and related matters to them so that they understand what is really happening," Bernama quoted him as saying.

Yesterday, in its latest series of exposes on Yapeim, NOW said the charity spent more than RM100,000 on a trip to New York last year.

Last Friday, Akmal said Yapeim had used funds to organise a religious programme in Australia, flying on business class to Sydney.

He said the agency along with its business outfit Ar-Rahnu, its research arm and Yapeim spent a total of RM218,505 on the nine-day programme in April 2014.

NOW had also revealed that the charity body spent RM290,000 to fund a marriage course in Paris, France.

Akmal also alleged that Jamil's trip to the US last year was funded by Yapeim.

Police are investigating NOW for "unlawfully obtaining" documents related to Yapeim, while the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is investigating the charity body. – The Malaysian Insider