KUALA LUMPUR: A coalition of civil society groups and PKR members gathered outside Parliament on Tuesday (Aug 11) to demand immediate action and a full parliamentary debate on the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report into Lembaga Tabung Haji’s operations.
The demonstration followed a boycott by opposition lawmakers, who walked out of the Dewan Rakyat after Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul rejected their motion to postpone the sitting due to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's absence on medical grounds.
Demonstrators criticised the opposition's stance, urging all political parties to set aside partisan interests for a matter directly affecting millions of Muslim depositors.
“By right, the opposition should support this as an agenda that affects the public. Depositors have a right to know the exact financial state of Tabung Haji via this RCI,” said Rina Hamzah of Sekolah Wanita. “When they refuse to participate, it gives the impression they are hiding something.”
Sekolah Wanita headmistress Yong Bazilah emphasised the impact on female account holders, noting that many women contribute substantially to the pilgrims' fund to secure Hajj opportunities for themselves and their children.
“Our leaders must protect this institution to the best of their abilities so that our children’s futures are safeguarded,” Yong said.
Amidi Abdul Manan, chairman of Secretariat Perpaduan Prihatin Madani, dismissed the opposition’s justification for skipping the debate, calling the walkout "childish."
“The Prime Minister’s health has nothing to do with the debate,” Amidi said, demanding swift accountability. “There must be zero compromise or tolerance for any wrongdoing highlighted in the RCI report.”
The group subsequently handed over memorandums outlining their demands to representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs).
