Yapeim DG suspended over anti-Harapan GE14 video, probe launched

The Islamic Economic Development Foundation (Yapeim) has suspended its director-general Abibullah Samsudin pending an investigation into alleged wrongdoing.

Yapeim chairperson Mohd Daud Bakar said today that an internal investigation committee will call up Abibullah in relation to a video in which employees of the foundation were warned against voting for Pakatan Harapan ahead of last year's general election.

"During his suspension, the investigation committee will ask him to attend (the hearing) to give a statement and assist the investigation," he said in a statement.

Yapeim director Parihah Hasan will be appointed as acting director-general during Abibullah's suspension, Daud added.

In the video, which was found during an internal probe and external audit conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Malaysia, Abibullah was allegedly heard telling the staff that he would check their votes one by one.

"I know there are those among you who choose Pakatan Harapan.

"Yes, it is secret, but I will check one by one. I will go to the Election Commission... and I will check one by one where you voted and who you voted for. 

"If you vote for Pakatan Harapan, you are not qualified to work in Yapeim. Go find work with DAP," the individual in the video said.

Following this, PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil lodged a police report against Abibullah.

It was previously reported that RM1 million in aid for orphans entrusted to Yapeim was allegedly misused in 2017 to settle the legal fees of a lawyer who was also an aide to then-prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Yapeim brushed off the allegations, saying the legal fees were much lower than the reported RM1 million, and that the money was not sourced from its charity fund, but its general fund.

The foundation was also reported to have suffered losses amounting to RM12 million through a gold pawning scheme involving 1,000 customers from its business wing, Ar-Rahnu.