Zulkifli: Govt still mulling over calls for RCI to probe Tabung Haji

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is still deliberating all aspects of the calls to form a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate alleged misappropriation of funds in Tabung Haji (TH), the Parliament heard.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri said the matter was discussed by the Cabinet on Aug 18.

"The government is considering and looking carefully (into the issue), including the legal aspects of it and how to implement it to ensure that the formation will achieve all of its goals as expected," he told Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (BN-Baling) during Question Time.

Azeez, a former TH chairman, has asked the government to state steps to set up an RCI on Tabung Haji in order to stop any political polemic on the institution.

Zulkifli said the government understands the need to have one authoritative body to look at and review all the transactions made by TH.

He also stressed that all the measures taken by the government are aimed at finding a solution that can be accepted by all parties.

"Most importantly, it is to ensure that the management of Tabung Haji will be in keeping with its interest as an institution owned by the Muslim community in the country.

"I hope that all MPs will give their full trust to the government to protect the sanctity of this Islamic institution," he said.

To a supplementary on the proposed sale of two TH Plantations Bhd subsidiaries owning 6,514ha of land for RM170mil in Sarawak, Zulkifli said so far TH Plantations has yet to make any formal public announcement on such transactions.

"What has been raised previously will be reviewed carefully," he said.