KUALA LUMPUR: The appointment of active politicians or individuals with political interests to positions in Tabung Haji must stop immediately to safeguard depositors’ funds from political interference, says Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Muhyiddin (PN-Pagoh) said appointments to the board and senior leadership positions, including those in Tabung Haji subsidiaries, should instead be based on merit and professional experience.
“This is to prevent political interference in the management of depositors’ funds and investment decisions,” he said when debating the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Aug 11).
The former prime minister said the move was among the RCI recommendations that the government must implement strictly and effectively.
He warned that the RCI report would be meaningless if its recommendations were not followed through.
Muhyiddin also called for a comprehensive, independent forensic audit of Tabung Haji to be completed within a year.
He said such an audit was necessary given the weaknesses and complex leakages previously identified in the management of the pilgrims fund.
“An independent forensic audit is very important to track fund flows and identify elements of fraud and negligence that took place,” he said.
Muhyiddin also said those responsible for losses suffered by Tabung Haji must be brought to book as a lesson to prevent a repeat of the “tragedy” that had befallen the fund.
Other recommendations that should be implemented included amendments to the Tabung Haji Act, stronger regulation and oversight by Bank Negara Malaysia or other relevant authorities, and the restructuring of its investment portfolio, he added.
