PORT DICKSON: Debt problems involving government-linked institutions are only coming to light now because the current administration is willing to be transparent about them, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Rebutting critics who questioned why the Federal Land Development Authority’s (Felda) debts and issues faced by Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) only arose now, the Prime Minister said this was because these matters were not disclosed previously.
“Previously the books were closed. Why are these issues coming to light now? It’s because we are telling the real story,” he said during a Munajat Perdana programme in Linggi on Thursday (July 30).
Anwar added that the government had to spend close to RM1bil annually to pay off Felda’s debts to avoid settlers having to pay for it.
“We don’t have the heart for that as it was not the settlers' fault,” he said.
On the recently declassified Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on TH, Anwar said there was nothing political about this, stressing that it was a matter of upholding integrity and fulfilling a responsibility to the ummah.
“It was also not the current administration that established the RCI or completed it,” he said.
He added that if the report was declassified years ago, it risked undermining public confidence in the pilgrims’ fund board.
“It also risked triggering panic among depositors and possibly lead to the mass withdrawal of funds,” he said.
On Wednesday (July 29), the RCI on TH was declassified by the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim).
The report stated that TH should remain a single entity but undergo a major governance overhaul.
It also made several recommendations to address the issues, including preventing active politicians from being appointed as chairman or board members of TH and its subsidiaries.
The RCI recommended forensic audits of past investments to determine how decisions were made that resulted in a severe decline in the value of TH’s assets.
The Commission also called for firm and immediate action on every police report or complaint involving alleged misconduct at TH.
The report also confirmed several related matters were referred to the MACC, including allegations of corruption, misappropriation, and falsification of documents.
“The Commission is of the position that MACC should be given appropriate space to continue any action within the scope of existing law,” the report added.
The RCI was established to investigate Tabung Haji’s management and governance between 2014 and 2020, following concerns over its financial position and compliance with statutory requirements.
