Disputing the claim by Rizal Faris Mohideen Abdul Kader, who claims to be the DPMM president, Syed Hussein said the funds were meant for community programmes for Malay entrepreneurs.

Syed Hussein said the RM5 million was allocated to the chamber by the finance ministry a month before the May 9, 2018 general election.

At a press conference today, he produced what he said was a letter from the ministry to DPMM dated April 11, 2018 stating that the RM5 million was given for its community programmes.

“Rizal yesterday said that RM5 million was meant to develop an online business app. How did this come about?” he asked.

Rizal had said the allocation was given to develop an online application, “Go 4.0”. He also said he never took money from former prime minister Najib Razak or 1MDB for his personal use.

“I was also not named in the government’s forfeiture lawsuits,” he said, in reference to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s civil forfeiture lawsuits against 41 individuals and organisations.

Syed Hussein said he and 17 other members had filed a lawsuit against Rizal and DPMM secretary-general Don Nazwin Don Najib because they wanted to know where the money was.

“Our executive council has never discussed about the money or given any approval previously to transfer the money to another foundation’s account,” he said.

He said the lawsuit was withdrawn after the chamber held its annual general meeting at a hotel on June 15, where Syed Hussein was elected as DPMM’s “president”.

He claimed the majority of DPMM’s state chapters attended the AGM and showed their support for him.

Syed Hussein also said a police report was lodged against Rizal and DPMM office-bearers last year, alleging criminal breach of trust (CBT).

“We hope the police will speed up their investigations on the RM5 million,” he said.

It was reported that police had called up Rizal and other office-bearers in March in connection with the report.