Share to help stimulate good governance, ensure future of people & M’sia
No News Is Bad News
C4: Ban political appointments as recommended by the TH RCI; Eight MACC officers deployed to probe TH
KUALA LUMPUR, July 31, 2026: The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) has called on the Madani Unity Government to ban political appointments as recommended by the Tabung Haji (TH) Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI).
Citing the report’s disclosure of political interference in the TH board’s decision-making processes,C4) said it revealed how political considerations contributed to severe financial mismanagement in the pilgrims’ fund, placing the savings of millions of Malaysians and Musli9ms at risk.
“So long as political appointments remain embedded in these institutions, the conditions that enable abuse, mismanagement and corruption will persist.
“Public institutions exist to serve the people, not politicians or political parties. Ending political appointments is essential to safeguard against corruption and a prerequisite for restoring public trust in institutions entrusted with the nation’s wealth,” C4 said in a statement.
Meanwhile, TH in its damage-control attempt, Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) said its 2018 recovery and restructuring plan put the pilgrims’ fund back on sustainable financial footing after addressing RM12.6 billion in investment losses by the end of last year.
Its statement followed the declassification of the TH RCI Report report into the fund, which highlighted investment losses and governance failures before the restructuring.
TH said its financial position was now stronger and it had begun rebuilding its reserves to ensure greater stability in the future.
No News Is Bad News asks: “So what?”
Does this means business as usual, and no one is held responsible and accountable for the billions of Ringgit in losses?
In the first place, if TH was managed competently, need it to address the RM12.6 billion in investment losses?
And, those responsible for the losses, in the management and board, are they still in the employ of TH?
In another development, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has begun investigating the findings of the TH RCI Report, deploying eight investigators to the institution’s headquarters to obtain and examine relevant documents.
MACC Chief Commissioner Abd Halim Aman said the investigation followed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s call to enforcement agencies to take appropriate action based on the findings contained in the recently released RCI report.
“The investigation team began its work this morning (Friday) by identifying documentation related to matters highlighted in the RCI report, as well as issues that are connected to our investigation.
“At this stage, we are also identifying individuals who will be called to have their statements recorded. We will screen and classify the list before calling them according to the investigation process,” he said in a press conference in Putrajaya on Friday.
No News Is Bad News reproduces news reported related to the TH RCI Report developments:
After TH revelations, group calls for ban on political appointments
Anti-graft group says the Tabung Haji RCI report exposes how political considerations contributed to severe financial mismanagement.
The RCI traced the roots of Tabung Haji’s financial woes to political interference in board appointments, unsustainable hibah payouts, and the national audit department softening its findings over concerns about depositor confidence. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: An anti-graft group has called for an end to political appointments at statutory bodies, government-linked companies and government-linked investment companies following the release of the royal commission of inquiry report on Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH).
Citing the report’s disclosure of political interference in the TH board’s decision-making processes, the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) said it revealed how political considerations contributed to severe financial mismanagement in the pilgrims’ fund, placing the savings of millions of Malaysians at risk.
“So long as political appointments remain embedded in these institutions, the conditions that enable abuse, mismanagement and corruption will persist.
“Public institutions exist to serve the people, not politicians or political parties. Ending political appointments is essential to safeguard against corruption and a prerequisite for restoring public trust in institutions entrusted with the nation’s wealth,” C4 said in a statement.
The group urged the government to implement the RCI’s recommendation to amend the Tabung Haji Act 1995 to prohibit politicians from serving as the board chairman.
It also suggested that the government legislate a Political Financing Act which would include mandatory public reporting of all political funds and the total prohibition of corporate and anonymous donors, to prevent the misuse of public funds for political purposes.
The RCI report on TH was declassified on Wednesday, about four years after the commission completed its probe. It found serious weaknesses in the fund’s governance, investment and financial management between 2014 and 2020.
In its 252-page report, the RCI traced the roots of TH’s financial problems to political interference in board appointments, unsustainable hibah payouts, and the national audit department softening its findings over concerns about depositor confidence.
It said several TH chairmen and board members appointed between 2014 and 2018 were active politicians, and that decisions on hibah rates, haj fees and financial assistance during that period were influenced by political considerations.
The commission also said the minister overseeing TH had unchecked authority to remove board members without cause – a power that was used to end the tenure of a CEO and chairman before the expiry of their terms.
The RCI recommended a major overhaul, including tighter oversight, forensic audits of selected investments and limits on political involvement in TH.
TH says recovery plan addressed RM12.6bil investment losses
Pilgrims' fund says its financial position is now stronger and it has begun rebuilding its reserves to ensure greater stability in the future.
Tabung Haji said its 2018 recovery plan was undertaken to address its financial deficit, which at the time required an immediate government financial rescue to protect the institution from insolvency.
PETALING JAYA: Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) says its 2018 recovery and restructuring plan put the pilgrims’ fund back on sustainable financial footing after addressing RM12.6 billion in investment losses by the end of last year.
Its statement followed the declassification of the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) report into the fund, which highlighted investment losses and governance failures before the restructuring.
TH said its financial position was now stronger and it had begun rebuilding its reserves to ensure greater stability in the future.
“TH’s declared profit distribution rate has steadily improved, rising from 1.25% in 2018 to 3.25% in 2024 and 3.5% in 2025.
“These distributions took into account the impairment of problematic assets that could not be transferred to Urusharta Jamaah Sdn Bhd (USJB) by the end of 2018 for specific reasons, amounting to RM2.6 billion,” it said.
The RCI was established in 2021 to investigate TH’s management, operations and asset-related issues between 2014 and 2020, following concerns over governance and the fund’s financial position.
The inquiry, chaired by former chief justice Raus Sharif, also examined the transfer of underperforming assets to special purpose vehicle USJB after 2018.
The RCI, which completed its report in July 2022, called for forensic audits into 14 problematic investments, including TH Indo Plantations, Trurich Resources and FGV Bhd.
Risk of financial market crisis
TH today said that its 2018 plan was undertaken to address its financial deficit, which at the time required an immediate government financial rescue, or bailout, to protect the institution from insolvency.
Malaysia
Eight anti-graft investigators begin probe on Tabung Haji following RCI findings
The Commission launches investigations with a special task force reviewing documents and potential issues involving corruption, abuse of power and financial misconduct
Updated 19 seconds ago · Published on 31 Jul 2026 12:32PM
MACC opens Tabung Haji RCI probe with special task force to scrutinise aspects of possible misconduct - July 31, 2026
THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has begun investigating the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Tabung Haji (TH), deploying eight investigators to the institution’s headquarters to obtain and examine relevant documents.
MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman said the investigation followed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call for enforcement agencies to take appropriate action based on the findings contained in the recently released RCI report.
“The investigation team began its work this morning by identifying documentation related to matters highlighted in the RCI report, as well as issues that are connected to our investigation.
“At this stage, we are also identifying individuals who will be called to have their statements recorded. We will screen and classify the list before calling them according to the investigation process,” he said during a press conference in Putrajaya on Friday.
The Cabinet had earlier agreed to declassify and make the RCI report public, while allowing enforcement agencies to proceed with further investigations based on its findings.
The report contained 25 recommendations for improvement, with TH’s senior management having implemented 75 per cent of the proposed measures. The institution’s announcement of a 3.5 per cent profit distribution for the 2025 financial year was also cited as reflecting improvements in its current position.
Following the report’s release, MACC established a special task force to review the findings under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 (Act 694) and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Act 613).
MACC said Senior Director of its Investigation Division Datuk Mohd Hafaz Nazar has been appointed to lead the task force, which will examine possible legal issues involving corruption, misappropriation, falsification of documents, abuse of power and money laundering.
Abd Halim said the investigation would not be restricted to a specific period, but would instead focus on findings and recommendations outlined in the RCI report.
He said the probe was aimed at determining whether there were elements of corruption, abuse of power or misconduct.
“The investigation will also involve obtaining all documents deemed relevant for review and analysis to assist the investigation and enable us to conclude our findings.
“Any documents required and related to the investigation will be obtained for examination and review to determine the outcome of the investigation,” he said.
Asked whether MACC would call all TH leaders, including former senior officials, Abd Halim said any individual identified as relevant to the investigation would be summoned to provide statements. - July 31, 2026
No comments:
Post a Comment