The mushrooming of unauthorised non-governmental organisations in donation drives lately could be linked to the self-claimed Islamic State (IS) militant groups that collect funds to finance their activities, a Malaysian official stated.

Counter Terrorism Special Branch principal assistant director Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the funds gathered were believed to be used to spread their ideologies and propaganda, apart from financing IS activities in Syria.

Those who want to collect donations for humanitarian purposes need to be registered and recognised before any donation collection can begin, he said.

Meanwhile, President of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah Malaysia (Aswaja) Zamihan Mat Zin concurred with Ayob Khan and proposed that NGOs be required to have a police permit to collect donation.

After obtaining a permit from police, they need to declare the funds collected to the police. Currently, anybody can start collecting donation without their background being known, he said.

Meanwhile, Engku Ahmad Fadzil Engku Ali, a senior fellow from Institute of Islamic Strategic Studies Malaysia, suggested that the government set up an official account such as Bank Negara for such NGOs to channel their funds.

The official account will function as the official channel for humanitarian causes, stated Engku Ali, adding that this is to prevent unregistered or unknown NGOs from taking advantage by abusing the collected funds for militant activities.

(Source: VNA)