JELEBU: Those responsible for Lembaga Tabung Haji’s (TH) losses detailed in the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report will be brought to justice, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said any wrongdoing would be thoroughly probed by the relevant authorities.
“Those responsible for the losses, fraud and abuse of power will be investigated by the police, the MACC and Bank Negara ... everyone will be investigated.
“If there is evidence, they will be charged (in court). Let them face trial in court, and let them go to prison (if convicted).
“There is no problem with that. That is the rule of law in this country,” he said at an afternoon tea session with PMX at the Chennah state constituency in Simpang Durian here yesterday.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the Cabinet had previously been briefed by TH chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Hussain, who told ministers that the fund had suffered losses amounting to RM10bil.
He said TH’s losses began in 2014 and that the fund had received warnings from Bank Negara, but these were ignored by the relevant parties.
“TH lost RM10bil because it did not comply with the regulations, because of poor investments and because there were many problems ... it has been happening since 2014.
“In 2014, Bank Negara, through its Governor, wrote to TH highlighting the breaches, but they were ignored,” Anwar added.
Meanwhile in Seremban, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the RCI report into TH should not be politicised.
He said this was particularly important because the Negri Sembilan polls would be held this Saturday.
“In my opinion, that report is not meant to point fingers at anyone but are recommendations and, in my view, should not be politicised.
“Furthermore, this coming Saturday is an important day for Negri Sembilan, and I hope it will not be manipulated for political gain,” he told reporters after closing the state-level Jelajah Pendidikan Tinggi & TVET Mara programme.
Ahmad Zahid said he believed TH had also taken steps to implement the commission’s recommendations.
“The report was completed three years ago and I believe measures have been taken to restore confidence in its performance,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid added that at the time, TH’s management and the minister in charge had requested that the report not be released, fearing it would trigger withdrawals by TH depositors.
The RCI on TH was announced in July 2021 and officially set up on Jan 21, 2022, after the formal consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was obtained.
It was tasked with thoroughly auditing and investigating TH’s management, operations and asset transactions between 2014 and 2020.
Ultimately, the commission’s aim was to restore the institution’s image, strengthen transparency and accountability, and to ensure that the savings of Malaysian Muslims were managed safely and professionally.
