Jamil Khir denies using tithes fund for home renovations

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KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom has denied the allegation that he used money from the tithes collection to renovate his house in Kampung Batu Muda, Batu Caves here.

He said the renovations of on his house, where he and his family had been living in since 1994, were paid for with his own money and he described the allegation as a ‘desperate political’ move.

“Before this I was not unemployed. My last post in the military was as a major-general with a pension and gratuity, but not up to RM1 million. So, it is improbable that a Major-General cannot afford a house,” he told reporters, here after chairing the State Islamic Religious Council Congress meeting yesterday.

Jamil Khir said that the extension of his home was due to the increasing number of people in his family, including his parents and six children.

“(I bought) the house (using) government loan in 1994, it is not settled yet, (you) can check and it is long before I became a minister,” he said, adding that he was willing to swear to prove that he did not use tithes money to buy the house.

The Malaysia Today news portal had published a picture of Jamil Khir’s home yesterday, alleging that it was worth millions of ringgit. — Bernama