01/08/2026

SATURDAY | AUG 1, 2026

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‘End political appointments in govt-linked institutions’ o RCI recommendation to prohibit active politicians from serving as chairman or board members of TH should be expanded into a broader national reform, says NGO

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) has called for swift accountability measures and sweeping governance reforms following the release of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Tabung Haji (TH), warning that the findings must lead to concrete action rather than fade into another cycle of inaction. “The release of the RCI report must mark the beginning not the conclusion of meaningful accountability. Malaysia cannot afford another cycle of public outrage followed by institutional inertia,” TI-M president Dr Raymon Ram said in a statement. He described the nearly four-year delay between the report’s completion and its public release as a failure of accountability. “Why were the Malaysian public, TH depositors and Parliament required to wait until July 2026 to access findings that were reportedly completed and presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in August 2022? JAYA: PORT DICKSON: The findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into Tabung Haji (TH) have reignited calls to end political appointments in government linked institutions. The Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Centre) has called for a nationwide ban on active politicians holding leadership positions in federal statutory bodies, GLCs and government-linked investment companies (GLICs). The anti-corruption watchdog said the RCI’s recommendation to amend the Tabung Haji Act 1995 to prohibit active politicians from serving as chairman or board members of TH should be expanded into a broader national reform covering all public institutions managing government-linked assets and funds. The C4 Centre said in a statement yesterday that the RCI report had exposed serious governance failures, political interference and questionable accounting practices that undermined the integrity of the pilgrimage fund between 2014 and 2020. “The findings lay bare the devastating consequences of political interference and weak governance, where political calculus was allowed to take precedence over public benefit.” The RCI, established in 2022 to investigate TH’s financial management, found that the institution had failed to present its true financial position, including Ű BY T.C. KHOR newsdesk@thesundaily.com

well as reducing excessive executive discretion. “If, as reportedly recommended by the RCI, TH is to remain a single integrated institution, its governance framework must reflect contemporary standards of independence, integrity and public accountability.” He called for independent forensic audits of all investments identified by the commission, with losses recovered wherever possible. “No individual, regardless of position, political affiliation or former office, should be shielded from due process,“ he said, adding that any enforcement action must be conducted fairly and in accordance with the rule of law. TI-M also reiterated its long standing call for a federal Freedom of Information Law, and urged the government to adopt a declassification-by-default policy for future commissions of inquiry, subject only to limited legal exceptions. “The public has a right to know how statutory bodies and public institutions entrusted with billions in public funds are governed.” and the fiduciary responsibilities of institutions entrusted with billions of ringgit in public assets. “Political considerations too often supersede the duty to uphold sound governance and prudent financial management owed to institutions entrusted with billions in public assets.” It said concerns over TH’s financial position had surfaced well before the RCI, including warnings issued by Bank Negara Malaysia over the fund’s liabilities. It also referred to previous controversies involving allegations linked to the misuse of Yayasan Tabung Haji funds, saying that the incidents further highlighted the need for stronger institutional safeguards and greater transparency. The C4 Centre urged the government to either introduce new legislation or amend existing laws to prohibit politicians from holding positions in statutory bodies, GLCs and GLICs. It also renewed its call for a

reporting a RM3.4 billion profit in 2017 despite actually recording a RM1.4 billion loss. The centre said the RCI also found that despite mounting losses TH continued paying hibah to depositors between 2014 and 2017 by drawing on its diminishing reserves. It said the RCI identified political pressure ahead of elections as a key factor behind those decisions. “The fact that a fund entrusted by millions of Malaysians with their savings for religious purposes could be pushed to the brink by political expediency is nothing short of a disgrace.” It added that the findings underscored the urgent need to insulate public institutions from political influence through stronger governance, independent oversight and greater accountability. It argued that political appointments had long been used to reward political loyalty, reinforce patronage networks and create conflicts between partisan interests “Transparency delayed undermines accountability, weakens public confidence and limits the ability of institutions to respond decisively to identified failures.” Raymon urged the government to publicly disclose the implementation status of every RCI recommendation through a transparent and verifiable reporting mechanism. He called on the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission, police and other enforcement agencies to provide time-bound updates on investigations arising from the report, while urging Parliament to proceed with the proposed special sitting. “It should become the start of sustained bipartisan oversight rather than a one-off political exercise.” The anti-corruption watchdog renewed its call for amendments to the Tabung Haji Act 1995 to strengthen governance, including introducing fit-and-proper criteria for board appointments, barring active politicians from serving as chairmen or board members, tightening conflict-of-interest rules, requiring mandatory declarations of interests and assets by senior office bearers as

The RCI found that TH had failed to present its true financial position, including reporting a RM3.4 billion profit in 2017 despite actually recording a RM1.4 billion loss. – SYED AZAHAR SYED OSMAN/THESUN

corporate donations. “Public institutions exist to serve the people, not politicians or political parties.”

Political Financing Act requiring mandatory public disclosure of political funding and a prohibition on anonymous and

Delay in release of RCI report undermines accountability, weakens confidence: TI-M

Anti-corrruption body begins probe into pilgrims fund board

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) has begun an investigation into the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Tabung Haji (TH), with eight officers deployed to the TH building yesterday morning. MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman said the measure was taken after a recommendation by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for enforcement agencies to take appropriate action. “The investigation team entered the TH building to identify documentation related to matters stated in the RCI as well as matters related to the investigation under MACC. “We are also tracking down several individuals who will be called to record their statements in addition to examining the relevant list according to the established procedure,” he said at a media conference at the MACC headquarters yesterday. On whether all TH leaders, including former top management, would be called, Abd Halim said anyone identified would be called to give a statement.

He added that the investigation is not limited to a specific period but would be guided by the findings and recommendations contained in the report. “Any document that is needed and is related to the investigation will be taken and examined to draw up a summary of the investigation results.” On Thursday, MACC announced in a statement that it had established a special team to review and examine the RCI report. It said the team led by MACC investigation division senior director Datuk Mohd Hafaz Nazar would examine legal issues involving corruption, embezzlement, forgery of documents, abuse of power or money laundering in accordance with the MACC Act 2009 (Act 694) and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Act 613) or related offences. The RCI report had, among other things, recommended that a forensic audit be conducted to examine how past investment decisions were made that caused TH to face a severe decline in asset value. – Bernama

Value sacrifices of security forces, says PM PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged Malaysians to appreciate the nation’s freedom and stability by remembering the sacrifices of its security forces. His call follows the Malaysian Armed Forces’ pantomime Darah Pahlawan Ulu Legong , staged at the 2026 National Warriors’ Day Parade at Dataran Pahlawan Negara yesterday. Calling the performance deeply moving, Anwar said it went

performance to highlight that independence comes at a cost. He also met ambush survivor Private Md Said Adam, the unit’s former commanding officer Lt-Kol Hamzah Othman and relatives of those involved. – Bernama

communist Ulu Legong, Baling, Kedah on Oct 29, 1981. Anwar, accompanied by his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, praised the chief of the Defence Forces for using the ambush in

beyond drama, serving as a reminder that the country’s peace and independence were earned through the courage of its defence personnel. The pantomime depicted the deaths of seven soldiers in a