Ahmad Zahid says anyone implicated of wrongdoing will be held accountable
TAMPIN: No one is above the law if they are implicated in the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH), says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the RCI’s findings must be made public and that if there are elements of wrongdoing, appropriate legal action should follow.
“If there is any abuse of power, irregularity, criminal breach of trust or other malpractice, the appropriate processes, including lodging police reports and conducting investigations into commercial crimes and other legal matters, can then be carried out,” he told reporters at the Malaysian Armed Forces Southern Zone Family Day Carnival at Kem Syed Sirajuddin, here yesterday.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, was responding to a question on whether the report would affect the coalition’s campaign in the Negri Sembilan election.
The Umno president said he did not believe the report would influence voters in the state.
“I do not think it will have any influence.
“The people, especially voters in Negri Sembilan, are wise enough to make their own assessments.
“They know in their minds and hearts which candidate and which coalition they will support,” he said.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed confidence that the Cabinet would agree to make the RCI report on TH public when it is tabled in the Cabinet.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, had explained that the report, completed three years ago, was not released earlier to avoid undermining public confidence in TH.
However, he said circumstances have changed, as TH has strengthened its financial position and gained international recognition.
On a separate matter, Ahmad Zahid said housing, education and the welfare of Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) personnel remains a government priority.
He said this would allow military personnel to focus fully on defending the nation.
He cited the construction of 1,300 units of Military Family Housing at Kem Syed Sirajuddin in Gemas, as well as efforts to improve educational support for their children, as examples of the government’s commitment.
“When their children receive a good education and their families’ welfare is protected, members of the armed forces will be able to carry out their responsibility of defending the nation with greater peace of mind,” he said.
On Friday, Anwar said the welfare of serving and retired military personnel remained a government priority in recognition of their invaluable contribution to the country’s stability and security.
He said RM844mil had been allocated under this year’s housing services budget to upgrade and develop Military Family Housing nationwide.
