'1MDB Foundation's pilgrim selection was politically motivated'

PARLIAMENT | The previous administration had handpicked 1MDB Foundation-sponsored hajj pilgrims via the Umno divisions, revealed the minister in charge of Islamic Affairs.

As such, Mujahid Yusof Rawa said, there was a political element in the pilgrim candidate selection process.

The pilgrimage programme, which was initiated in 2011, was meant for imams and bilals who had never performed the pilgrimage but this was later expanded to include village heads, Mujahid said.

"In 2013, members of Village Security and Development Committees (JKKK) also joined the pilgrimage (under the 1MDB Foundation programme)," he said during the Question-and-Answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

"So, it is obvious that there was a political element by using the 1MDB Foundation," Mujahid added.

He was responding to Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian) who urged the government to continue sponsoring 1,200 pilgrims who had been chosen early this year to perform the hajj in Mecca.

It was previously reported that the government had cancelled the programme.

Ahmad brought up the matter based on grounds that the individuals linked to 1MDB had not been convicted in court.

[More to follow]

- Mkini