KUALA LUMPUR — The Cabinet has proposed extending the timeframe covered by the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) to include the period after the institution was taken over by its new management.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the extension would allow the recovery measures undertaken after the investigation period to be assessed, Bernama reported.
“The Cabinet has proposed that the timeframe for the findings of this review be extended, not only up to 2020, but from 2014 to 2022, and from 2022 until the point when TH’s new management and chairmanship took over.”
“This is to ensure that the recovery efforts, including asset restructuring, asset disposal and other measures to restore TH, were carried out based on the recommendations made in the RCI report on TH,” he said.
He said this at a press conference after officiating the closing ceremony of the 2026 MARA Higher Education and TVET Outreach Programme for Negeri Sembilan here today, which was also attended by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the Cabinet had also agreed for the TH RCI report to be made public and tabled during a special parliamentary sitting for debate.
He said the government hoped the recovery measures would demonstrate its commitment to ensuring TH depositors receive appropriate returns, while helping to reduce the cost of performing the haj.
“We know that the cost of performing the haj has increased. Previously, it was RM9,980 for each pilgrim, but now the amount has risen due to higher costs for flights, ground handling, hotels and other expenses.
“However, I believe that with profits through dividends or bonuses that will be provided later under the new management, it will show that the cost can be reduced by using part of those profits to cover the increase in the cost of performing the haj,” he said.
Addressing concerns that the report’s disclosure could affect depositors’ confidence, Ahmad Zahid said the report should have been released about three years ago but was delayed over fears it could trigger mass withdrawals of deposits from TH.
“TH is moving towards strengthening its investment portfolio and cash flow position. In my view, the report is not about pointing fingers at anyone, but rather it contains recommendations that should not be politicised, especially when this Saturday is an important day for Negeri Sembilan.
“I hope it will not be manipulated in that direction,” he said.
Meanwhile, Communications Minister and MADANI Government spokesperson Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said today that the Cabinet had agreed for the classification of the TH RCI report covering 2014 to 2020 to be removed and for it to be made public.
Fahmi said the report would also be tabled and debated during a special Dewan Rakyat sitting in the near future.
Previously, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed confidence that the Cabinet would agree to a proposal to make the TH RCI report public after it was presented for consideration by the Cabinet.