Police arrest directors of youth‑led NGO Mandiri in anti‑money‑laundering probe
Executive director Amir Hariri Abdul Hadi and finance director Dobby Chew of the youth‑led non‑governmental organisation Mandiri were taken into custody on Thursday afternoon, police said, under the Anti‑Money…
Source: Malaysiakini · September 23, 2026 at 2:32 AM · AI-assisted report
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KUALA LUMPUR, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 —
Executive director Amir Hariri Abdul Hadi and finance director Dobby Chew of the youth‑led non‑governmental organisation Mandiri were taken into custody on Thursday afternoon, police said, under the Anti‑Money Laundering, Anti‑Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amla).
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The arrests followed a press conference held outside Menara KPJ in Kuala Lumpur. Wong Kueng Hui, coordinator of Mandiri, told Malaysiakini that the grounds for Amir’s arrest were unclear, while Chew was detained under Section 4(1)(a) of Amla. Both had previously been summoned to give statements to investigators in connection with the same case.
Chong Kar Yan, Chew’s lawyer, confirmed the detention and said the pair would be held in the Jinjang lock‑up pending a remand hearing tomorrow. “They have given their full cooperation. Their statements were taken by two officers,” Chong told reporters.
Mandiri and the rights group Hayat reported that on 18 September police’s anti‑money‑laundering unit raided their shared office and seized organisational documents. The raid came after PKR Youth chief Kamil Abdul Munim urged authorities to investigate allegations that Mandiri received foreign funding intended to subvert Malaysian politics. Munim cited reports that the organisation obtained RM1.5 million from the US‑based Tides Foundation between November 2024 and June 2025.
Co‑founder Mohammad Alshatri Abdullah said the arrests occurred despite Mandiri’s cooperation. He said the duo were not informed before their bank accounts were frozen and travel abroad was barred.
“After they found out that their bank accounts were frozen and they were prevented from travelling overseas, they presented themselves at Bukit Aman and later the Amla unit to inquire about the grounds of the probe,” Alshatri told Malaysiakini, adding that the lack of explanation amounted to intimidation.
Three Democratic Action Party (DAP) leaders – Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen, DAP international secretary Kasthuriraani Patto and DAP Youth national vice‑chief Raja Ahmad Iskandar Fareez – issued a joint statement calling for the immediate release of Amir and Chew. They acknowledged the police duty to investigate but warned that investigative measures must be evidence‑based, fair and free from political prejudice.
Supporters of Mandiri announced a vigil outside the Jinjang lock‑up tonight. The case highlights the tension between civil‑society activism and Malaysia’s expanding anti‑money‑laundering framework, raising questions about procedural transparency and the balance of security and civil liberties.