RAFIZI Ramli, founder of Invoke Malaysia, a policy institute linked to PKR, today shared the organisation’s financial statements with the public, in response to a challenge from party colleague, Adam Rosly.

In a press statement today, Rafizi,  who is PKR vice-president, said that while he was not obliged to entertain Adam , he was duty-bound as a public servant to promptly respond to questions on transparency.

“I respect Adam Rosly’s right to make a statement and demand that Invoke as well as NOW (National Oversight and Whistleblowers) reveal their source of income and expenditure. 

“Although it is my opinion that I don’t need to entertain Adam, who has been asked to take leave from his post following MACC’s investigation, I believe I should give a prompt reply to all issues pertaining to transparency,” he said.

The financial statement that accompanied the press statement showed that Invoke got its funds from several sources, one of which was Rafizi’s own pockets.

It stated that RM787,049 of the RM2,780,652 that Invoke had in its account came from Rafizi. 

Rafizi said he had withdrawn his savings in his Tabung Haji and Amanah Saham Bumiputera accounts and invested them in Invoke.

He said a certain amount of his salary also went to Invoke and he had also used his personal credit cards to pay Invoke’s bills.

The statement showed that RM1,063,066 came from volunteer selling services and donations.

Rafizi revealed that Invoke’s expenditure, since it was established last year till April 30, came up to RM2,394,440, which left Invoke with RM 386, 212 in its account.

He said he was also not paid for his work at Invoke.

As for NOW, he said it did not have funds because it had not done anything to generate income.

“The only expenses that it has to pay is the rent for its office which I paid on its behalf.”

His statement came in response to Adam’s demand for Rafizi to reveal how Invoke and NOW were funded.

Adam said he could no longer keeping quiet and that the party leadership and activists had been patient for a long time on the matter.

The biggest worry, Adam said, was how the funds were collected on a large scale from the public.

He said it was strange that Rafizi had failed to reveal his funding information while always calling on others, including Barisan Nasional and the opposition, to declare their assets.

“To maintain public confidence in PKR and the opposition, and in line with his principle of transparency, I demand that Rafizi reveals the total amount he has gathered for Invoke Malaysia and NOW from the public and how it was spent. 

“Also list down the parties who have received fund collected by Invoke,” said Adam.

He said if Rafizi failed to adhere to his demand, he would take the necessary actions to safeguard public confidence in PKR  and Pakatan Harapan.

The Ampang PKR Youth chief is himself under the spotlight after he was arrested and charged with giving false statements and forged documents to the MACC.

Adam has declared his innocence and vowed to fight the charges until the end.

The charges against him are under Section 89 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which provides a fine of up to RM3 million or imprisonment for up to five years, or both, for the convicted party.

The court has set May 29 for case mention. – May 5, 2017.