MACC Proposes Six Governance Reforms to Strengthen Distribution of Non-Muslim Houses of Worship Maintenance Grants
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has proposed six governance improvement measures to strengthen the management and distribution of financial assistance for the maintenance of Non-Muslim Houses of Worship (RIBI) nationwide, following governance investigations into cases where funded maintenance projects were not carried out.
The recommendations were presented by the MACC Negeri Sembilan to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) during a governance enhancement briefing held in Putrajaya on Monday.
Among the key proposals is a revision of the ministry’s existing guidelines to require all applicants for RIBI maintenance assistance to be officially registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) or recognised as legitimate religious organisations under the relevant legal provisions.
The MACC also recommended that extensions of time (EOT) for project completion should only be granted under exceptional and unforeseen circumstances. In addition, it proposed establishing a dedicated procedure for recovering grant funds that remain unspent or in cases where recipient organisations are found to have violated the conditions of the financial assistance.
To strengthen monitoring and accountability, the commission recommended introducing a more comprehensive repair work specification form, along with a standardised physical site inspection report to be completed by the technical team, supported by photographic evidence from project visits.
The sixth recommendation calls for the inclusion of a declaration under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009, requiring recipient organisations to certify that all submitted documents and information are accurate, truthful and fully compliant with prevailing regulations.
The governance review was initiated after investigations by the MACC Negeri Sembilan uncovered cases involving non-Muslim houses of worship that failed to implement approved maintenance projects despite receiving financial assistance from KPKT.
The recommendations were presented to the Deputy Secretary-General (Housing and Community Wellbeing) of KPKT, Zulkeflee Sulaiman, who represented the ministry’s Secretary-General, Datuk Wira Dr M. Noor Azman Taib.
During the presentation, Zulkeflee welcomed all six recommendations, describing them as important measures to strengthen integrity, governance and internal control mechanisms within the grant management process.
He formally accepted the proposals by signing the Governance Improvement Report, witnessed by MACC Negeri Sembilan Director Awgkok Ahmad Taufik Putra Awg Ismail.
Both agencies said the initiative demonstrates their shared commitment to enhancing governance standards, improving regulatory compliance and ensuring that public funds are distributed transparently, responsibly and only to eligible recipients.