TH RCI: Govt Prioritises Depositors Over Political Interests - Aiman Athirah

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- The government was prioritising the interests of Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) depositors over pursuing short-term political gains by taking a cautious approach to the disclosure of the TH Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report, said Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu.

The Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government said the approach was necessary to ensure that the stability of the financial institution, which manages the savings of more than 10 million depositors, is not disrupted in a way that could trigger public concern.

She said such measures were important to prevent large-scale panic withdrawals, such as those that occurred in 2018, when withdrawals of more than RM6 billion were recorded following issues involving governance weaknesses at the time.

“Tabung Haji is not merely an ordinary organisation. It manages the trust placed in it by more than 10 million depositors and is directly connected to the aspiration of Muslims to fulfil the fifth pillar of Islam.

“In circumstances such as these, the government’s actions should not merely be about managing political perceptions, but about ensuring the stability of an institution that serves as a place of savings and hope for millions of Muslims remains a priority,” she said in a Facebook post today.

Aiman Athirah said responses from certain parties, particularly PAS and Parti Wawasan Negara (Wawasan), which have questioned the timing of the report’s disclosure, should be addressed with facts and responsibility rather than political rhetoric.

She said His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia’s statement calling for the issue to be thoroughly investigated showed that it was no ordinary weakness but involved serious governance shortcomings.

She welcomed the explanation by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan during yesterday’s special Dewan Rakyat sitting that more than 70 per cent of the RCI’s recommendations relating to TH’s management and operations had been implemented.

“The implementation of forensic audits on 14 troubled investments is an important step to ensure that every question is answered comprehensively and that weaknesses are clearly identified,” she said.

Aiman Athirah also supported the government’s commitment to amend the Tabung Haji Act 1995 [Act 535] to strengthen governance, limit ministerial powers, and ensure that TH remains free from political influence and political appointments.

Regarding TH’s recovery, she said the institution’s investment income reached a record RM4.64 billion in 2025, while the profit distribution increased from 1.25 per cent in 2018 to 3.5 per cent in 2025.

She said the cost of performing the haj had been maintained at RM33,000 for three consecutive seasons despite rising management costs, while TH’s governance, professionalism and management quality had also been strengthened.

She said the MADANI Government had chosen to restore depositors’ confidence, strengthen TH’s financial position, improve governance and stabilise its operations before making the RCI report public.

Aiman Athirah also criticised certain parties for attempting to politicise the issue of the report’s disclosure, describing the decision by some opposition lawmakers to walk out of the chamber during the special sitting as irresponsible.

During the special sitting, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan revealed that TH had incurred nearly RM13 billion in losses from 14 troubled investments, seven of which recorded 100 per cent losses.

The amount comprised RM10.2 billion borne by the government through a rescue measure involving Urusharta Jamaah Sdn Bhd in 2018, as well as RM2.6 billion in impairment losses borne by TH between 2018 and 2025 on investments that remain under management.

-- BERNAMA