THE chairman of a non-governmental organisation arrested under Op Serantau for allegedly misappropriating public donations is set to be charged in court today, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said.
MACC said the charges will be brought before the Kuala Lumpur Criminal Sessions Court at 8.30am.
Earlier reports revealed that at least three well-known NGOs are under MACC scrutiny after investigators detected the accumulation of illicit assets linked to the collection of millions of ringgit in public funds.
In an interview with Harian Metro, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said intelligence gathering and investigations into the NGOs concerned had already been carried out by the commission.
Media reports have alleged that donations from the public were siphoned off by transferring organisational funds into personal accounts and used to purchase jewellery, vehicles, land and houses, as well as cryptocurrency, with total assets estimated at RM26 million.
The alleged modus operandi involved an NGO that actively collected public donations, including surplus funds from a water well construction project carried out as part of a humanitarian mission in Syria, which were allegedly embezzled for personal use.
The activities of the NGO were uncovered following the arrest of five suspects, including its chairman, secretary, treasurer and a financial officer, during Op Serantau conducted by the Selangor MACC.
Sources said the operation involved raids at several locations across Selangor, Melaka and Penang, beginning in June last year, as part of a coordinated effort to dismantle the alleged misuse of charitable funds.
The case has intensified scrutiny of charitable organisations and fundraising activities, with authorities warning that abuse of public trust, particularly involving humanitarian causes, will be dealt with firmly under the law. - January 12, 2026
