Govt won't interfere in Tabung Haji RCI, says minister

IPOH: The Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) will not interfere in the Royal Commission of Inquiry's (RCI) investigation of issues involving Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH).

Its Minister Senator Idris Ahmad (pic) said full trust will be given to the RCI in its probe of TH management and operational issues from 2014 to 2020.

The RCI held its first meeting on Jan 26.

"The probe is ongoing and we do not want to interfere,” he told reporters after presenting Malaysian Family Musa’adah Squad financial aid to victims of Sunday's (Jan 30) freak storm at the relief centre in Dewan Tawas here on Wednesday (Feb 2).

According to Idris, the RCI must act as an independent body free from any interference by other parties, and the Prime Minister's Department is awaiting the findings of its investigation before further action is taken.

On Jan 19, the government obtained the consent of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to the appointment of six RCI members.

The government agreed to set up the RCI on July 14 last year.

The RCI aims to determine if TH carried out its mandate professionally in managing the deposits of Muslims.

At the handing over of aid on Wednesday, Idris said victims of the storm received cash aid of RM300 and essential items worth RM100 per family to help ease their burden. – Bernama