Kuala lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today announced the release of the full Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report concerning the management and operations of Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH). He emphasized that the report was published in its entirety, without any form of censorship or redactions, to ensure transparency and allow scrutiny by Muslims and all Malaysians.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the complete release of the RCI report aims to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the commission's findings and recommendations. Anwar stressed the importance of learning from the report to prevent similar issues in the future, stating, "There was no censorship. The Prime Minister's Department did not remove any part of the report. We published the entire report, including the recommendations and the processes that took place."
The RCI report covers a period leading up to 2020, and Anwar noted that the Cabinet considered extending the review beyond this timeframe. He highlighted the need to understand subsequent developments and actions taken by various committees, including the current TH board, to address the issues identified in the report.
Anwar, who also serves as Finance Minister, underscored the necessity of investigating and prosecuting individuals responsible for any wrongdoing revealed in the RCI report. He called for legal proceedings to adhere to proper prosecutorial and judicial processes.
When questioned about potential impacts on the Unity Government, Anwar assured that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and other Cabinet members supported the decision to release the report fully. "To be fair, Datuk Seri Zahid and the Cabinet supported the release of the entire report. So there's no question about continuing collaboration," Anwar stated, emphasizing the collective endorsement for transparency.
Regarding the report's possible influence on voter sentiment ahead of the 16th Negeri Sembilan state election, Anwar clarified that the decision was rooted in accountability rather than political motives. He remarked, "Well, it's not an issue of votes because this is too massive an issue. Whether the voters can grasp this in a short time is, to me, a separate issue."
The 211-page RCI report, detailing TH's management and operations from 2014 to 2020, was published by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) on its website last Wednesday night.