Kuala lumpur: Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) is now in a much stronger position after undergoing an institutional recovery process, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan. He highlighted the progress made since the MADANI Government assumed office at the end of 2022, focusing on addressing less competitive and problematic legacy assets that had been part of the institution since 2018.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Zulkifli expressed the government's appreciation for the new TH management and all parties involved in restoring the institution's stability. He made these remarks during a ministerial briefing session on the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) Report on Tabung Haji at the Special Dewan Rakyat Sitting. He emphasized TH's recognition through five World's Best Haj Management Awards over four consecutive years, attributing it to leadership marked by capability, competence, trustworthiness, and integrity.
The Cabinet, on July 29, unanimously agreed to make the RCI report public and debate it in a special Parliament sitting. This move was accompanied by an order for a full investigation by enforcement agencies. Following this decision, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and police initiated investigations, leading to the detention of several key individuals linked to misappropriation mentioned in the report. Dr Zulkifli stated that these actions underscore the government's commitment to addressing abuses of power and criminal breaches of trust involving pilgrims' assets and funds.
He further noted that the investigations align with His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia's decree, calling for comprehensive and transparent investigations into the RCI findings. Dr Zulkifli highlighted the significance of the trust placed in TH by depositors, including parents saving for their children and various professionals like teachers and taxi drivers. He stressed that trust must not be compromised, and any breach must be thoroughly investigated to uphold depositor confidence.
Dr Zulkifli also underscored that decisions involving TH should be guided by trust principles and depositor confidence. The RCI, established by the previous government in 2021, was chaired by former Chief Justice Tun Mohamed Raus Sharif and included experts in public administration, banking, finance, syariah, and accounting. The 211-page RCI report, made public on July 29, identified weaknesses in TH's management and operations between 2014 and 2020. It proposed 25 recommendations for improvement, 75 per cent of which had been implemented by July 30, with the remaining recommendations actively being pursued.