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A TIKTOK video that has gone viral reported that RM230 million in zakat funds, intended for the poor and vulnerable, has been diverted by officials of a NGO for the purchase of 18 luxury cars, branded watches and landed property.

Former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Tan Sri Azam Baki clarified that zakat funds were not involved.

He said the monies were from public donations and commissions to the NGO concerned.

But does it matter from where the monies came from? The important thing is that these funds were meant for the poor and needy.

For the average person, that distinction doesn’t lessen the anger — it only highlights how easily “charity” can be weaponised by the corrupt.

Three individuals were detained, including the deputy chairman of the NGO involved. Two were remanded at the Shah Alam Magistrate’s Court.

Taking RM230 million intended for charitable purposes isn’t just a financial crime; it is a moral bankruptcy of the highest order.

MACC deserves a pat on the back for its exposure of this pernicious crime.

People contribute to zakat and charitable NGOs with the expectation that their money will provide food, shelter, and dignity to those in need.

To divert that into a Porsche and a fleet of luxury cars is a slap in the face to every donor and a theft from every person in poverty who was denied help.

For too long NGOs in Malaysia have operated in a “trust-based” grey zone. Because they are often associated with religious or humanitarian causes, there is a cultural hesitation to question their books.

Mandatory public auditing would strip away that shield and treat these organisations like the multimillion-ringgit corporations that some of them have become.

Current ROS (Registry of Societies) and SSM (Companies Commission) requirements often focus on basic filing. But a NGO collecting RM230 million isn’t a “small society”; it’s a financial powerhouse.

The public trust has been gutted. The government should now respond with “draconian” transparency laws.

In an era where we can track a food delivery rider across the city in real-time, we can surely track RM230 million in public donations in a timely and efficient manner.

Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye

The views expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express. If you have something to share, write to us at: Forum@dailyexpress.com.my