Bentong: The government has been urged to outline strategies to decrease Lembaga Tabung Haji's (TH) dependence on income from Urusharta Jamaah Sdn Bhd's (UJSB) sukuk. This call comes in light of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) Report indicating that nearly 26 percent of TH's annual income is derived from this source.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman emphasized the financial risks associated with this dependency and called for the government to specify measures for the early redemption of the sukuk. During a debate on the minister's briefing concerning the RCI Report on TH, Young Syefura stressed the importance of TH being robust due to a strong portfolio and governance.

The briefing was presented by Dr Zulkifli Hasan, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs). Young Syefura also urged the government to reveal the total losses or depreciation from 14 previous investments highlighted by the RCI for forensic auditing, citing significant asset depreciation as a concern.

Investments under scrutiny include those in TH Plantations Bhd, TH Properties, and FGV Holdings, among others. Young Syefura questioned the recoverable amounts and the status of the forensic audit, urging for accountability if negligence, abuse of power, or breach of trust is found in these investments.

Furthermore, Young Syefura proposed enhancing the financial and investment supervision of TH through increased involvement from institutions like Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission Malaysia. She also recommended that major investments undergo independent risk assessments and stringent due diligence, and that the appointment of board members and top management be based on the "fit and proper" principle.