PORT DICKSON: A thorough and immediate investigation must be carried out by the authorities to restore the Malay-Muslim community’s confidence in Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH), says Parti Amanah Negara.
Its secretary-general Muhammad Faiz Fadzil said the declassified Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report had identified matters warranting further investigation by the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
“While some politicians attempt to divert attention by claiming the report does not explicitly disclose criminal elements, the RCI clearly states that several investment losses incurred by Tabung Haji subsidiaries require further investigations by the police and MACC.
“This indicates the possible existence of criminal offences,” he said in a statement on Thursday (July 30).
Muhammad Faiz also claimed that those who champion the “unity of the ummah” agenda have remained silent and failed to defend TH or speak out against the alleged mismanagement that occurred under the then administration led by Umno.
According to him, this clearly reflected how the “unity of the ummah” agenda is only about gaining political power instead of defending the Malays or upholding Islam.
“I urge the Malays to evaluate this agenda,” he said, adding that the RCI findings were deeply saddening for the Malay-Muslim community in Malaysia.
On Wednesday (July 29), the RCI on TH was declassified.
The report stated that TH should remain a single entity but undergo a major governance overhaul,
In the report, the Commission also made several recommendations to address the issues, including preventing active politicians from being appointed as chairman or board members of TH and its subsidiaries.
It also recommended setting specific criteria for individuals eligible for board appointments and setting up a clear process for selecting board members.
The RCI called for a greater separation of responsibilities, with the Minister in charge of religious affairs overseeing haj management and the Finance Minister responsible for financial matters, funds and investments.
The RCI recommended forensic audits of past investments to determine how decisions were made that resulted in a severe decline in the value of TH’s assets.
Among the investments identified for forensic audits were TH Indo Plantations, Emrail, Wellspring Worldwide, Deru Semangat, Trurich Resources, Abraj, Putrajaya Perdana, Al-Rawda, Al-Fareeda Residential Fund, TH Plantations, TH Properties, Alam Maritim Resources/TH Marine, TH Hotel & Residences and FGV Berhad.
The Commission also called for firm and immediate action on every police report or complaint involving alleged misconduct at TH.
The report also confirmed several related matters were referred to the MACC, including allegations of corruption, misappropriation, and falsification of documents.
“The Commission is of the position that MACC should be given appropriate space to continue any action within the scope of existing law,” the report added.
The RCI was established to investigate Tabung Haji’s management and governance between 2014 and 2020, following concerns over its financial position and compliance with statutory requirements.
