Those Responsible for RM10 Billion Tabung Haji Losses Will Face Justice, Warns Anwar

JELEBU, July 29 — Any individual found responsible for the RM10 billion in losses suffered by Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) will face full legal prosecution and be brought to justice following findings detailed in the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim declared today.

Speaking at an afternoon tea session with local residents at the Chennah state constituency in Simpang Durian today, Anwar emphasized that any elements of fraud, misappropriation, or administrative abuse identified in the report will be investigated by relevant law enforcement authorities, including the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), and Bank Negara Malaysia.

“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,” Anwar said.

“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 added.

Present at the event was Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook, who is also contesting as the Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Chennah state seat in the 16th Negeri Sembilan state election.

The Prime Minister’s remarks follow an earlier announcement by Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil confirming Cabinet approval to declassify the TH RCI report covering the period between 2014 and 2020, making it public today ahead of a special Dewan Rakyat debate session.

Anwar, who also serves as Finance Minister, revealed that ministers were briefed by TH chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Hussain regarding the full scale of the financial damage, which saw the pilgrim fund accumulate RM10 billion in losses beginning in 2014 due to non-compliance, regulatory failures, and compromised investments.

Furthermore, Anwar highlighted that regulatory warnings issued by the central bank at the onset of the financial irregularities were disregarded by previous managers.

“(TH) lost RM10 billion because it did not comply with the regulations, because of poor investments and because there were many problems… it has been happening since 2014,” Anwar stated.

“In 2014, Bank Negara, through the Governor of Bank Negara, wrote to TH highlighting the breaches, but they were ignored,” he added.

-NMT