Kuala lumpur: The public release of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) was not part of an election strategy ahead of the Negeri Sembilan state election, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil clarified today. He emphasized that the decision to release the report was made after receiving unanimous approval from the Cabinet, allowing it to be debated in the Dewan Rakyat and enabling relevant authorities to act on its findings.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fahmi stated that the decision was thoroughly processed and discussed within the Cabinet, and it was unanimously agreed upon. The aim was not only to make the report public but also to ensure that it could be debated in the Dewan Rakyat, facilitating necessary actions by the authorities. Fahmi shared these insights during the 'Karnival Komuniti: Kempen Internet Selamat' event at Felda Palong 2.
The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) released the 211-page RCI report detailing TH's management and operations from 2014 to 2020. Fahmi cited a briefing by TH chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Hussain, who was also on the RCI. Abdul Rashid had requested a delay in releasing the report after his 2023 appointment to rebuild depositors' confidence by implementing its recommendations.
Fahmi noted that 75 percent of the RCI's recommendations have been implemented, though some, including legal actions and enforcement follow-ups, remain. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim informed the Cabinet that the police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Bank Negara Malaysia, and other relevant bodies would act on the report's findings.
Addressing concerns over the report's language, Fahmi explained that it used appropriate legal terms like corruption rather than colloquial terms such as 'sakau' (embezzlement). The report highlighted alleged 'creative accounting' at TH, with losses reported as RM1.4 billion in 2017 allegedly adjusted to show a profit of RM3.4 billion.
Fahmi stressed that the findings include corruption references, with reports filed to both the police and MACC. Authorities are tasked with investigating and acting on any established wrongdoing. He added that the questionable practices reportedly date back to 2014, not just 2017, leaving the matter in the hands of the authorities for further action.