Kuala lumpur: The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH), which focuses on institutional integrity, accountability, and governance, should not be turned into an issue driven by religious or racial sentiment, said a Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) academic. Dr Mazlan Che Soh, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies, UiTM Seremban, emphasized that the core matters examined by the RCI were the management of trust and depositors' funds, investments, financial reporting, as well as TH's decision-making processes.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mazlan noted that TH's status as a vital institution for the Muslim community should not result in issues concerning its management and governance being politicized along religious, racial, or partisan lines. "Defending TH means defending the integrity of the institution itself. The greater the religious significance an institution holds, the higher the standards of trust and governance that the public is entitled to demand from it," Mazlan explained.
Mazlan highlighted that integrity is crucial given TH's immense responsibility in assisting Muslims to perform the Haj pilgrimage and managing the savings of millions of depositors. He pointed out that integrity in TH's management extended beyond individual honesty, encompassing transparent financial reporting, compliance with the law and Syariah principles, risk management, investment decisions, and clear checks-and-balances mechanisms. "Integrity is the capital of trust for TH. If confidence in its integrity is compromised, the impact affects not only the institution's finances but also depositor confidence," he added.
Mazlan stressed that the RCI's effectiveness would ultimately depend on follow-up actions, including institutionalizing accountability and good governance so that they would not be dependent on specific individuals. He also mentioned that progress in implementing the RCI's recommendations should be reported periodically, including details of matters that had been resolved, those still being addressed, and the expected timelines for completion. "The true measure is whether, moving forward, TH becomes an institution that is more transparent, professional, and principled, and one that is more difficult for anyone to abuse," he said.
Meanwhile, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd Chief Economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid highlighted the need for robust governance and integrity, given that TH manages savings amounting to about RM93.4 billion belonging to more than 9.8 million depositors, according to its 2025 annual report. He stressed the importance of competent investment management to ensure depositors' savings generated returns while considering associated risks and the best interests of depositors.
Mohd Afzanizam underscored that the same principles were equally important in Haj operations, particularly when TH engaged with vendors and various stakeholders within the Haj ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. He recommended clear governance processes to ensure that decisions taken safeguarded depositors' interests and emphasized the need for effective communication of the RCI's findings and recovery measures to prevent misunderstandings or concerns over TH's financial standing. He suggested a more comprehensive communication approach, including field visits and engagement sessions such as district-level town halls, so that depositors could receive direct explanations of the RCI findings and subsequent actions taken.
Meanwhile, TH depositor Nadiah An Najihah Zulkanain, 39, agreed that the RCI had focused primarily on governance and integrity in the institution's management. The legal counsel at a private company stressed that TH's responsibility for managing Muslims' savings for the purpose of performing the Haj pilgrimage necessitated higher standards of governance and integrity. She expressed hope that the RCI's findings would serve as a foundation for continuous improvement, including greater transparency in fund and investment management and ensuring that TH was entrusted to individuals with the appropriate expertise.
Nadiah advocated for less political interference and greater accountability for any misconduct. She emphasized that governance flaws and weaknesses must not be tolerated, stating, "Since TH bears the name of Islam, it must enhance its internal integrity so that depositors feel more confident and at ease keeping their money with the institution."