Umno Youth demands RCI on Tabung Haji from PN

Umno Youth repeated its call for the Perikatan Nasional government to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on operations of pilgrims fund Tabung Haji.

Its chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said although the RCI was never promised by the new PN administration, the rakyat still deserves an explanation over allegations of scandals played up during the previous Pakatan Harapan government.

"Beginning with various allegations of abuse within the Tabung Haji which to this day not a single person has been charged, to other issues including (then) rumours that haj subsidies would be reduced," he added in a statement today.

Among others, Asyraf reiterated his call for authorities to probe the RM170 million Tabung Haji Plantations land deal involving 76.2 percent or 77,000ha of its total land hold.

He said this was on top of Tabung Haji's other assets which had been "sold off" to a Finance Ministry-owned company Urusan Jemaah Sdn Bhd.

The Prime Minister’s Department previously revealed that the assets with a book value of RM10 billion were transferred to a Special Purpose Vehicle for RM19.9 billion.

It had explained in a parliamentary reply that this was to help Tabung Haji cover its asset versus liability deficit and allow it to pay dividends to depositors.

Asyraf said Tabung Haji during BN's tenure had consistently fulfilled its obligations to contributors and as such, the claims of mismanagement and deficit under the Harapan rule had raised questions among the people.

"Therefore, the Umno Youth movement is asking the PN government to urgently set up an RCI to probe all the allegations of abuse within the Tabung Haji and restore public confidence towards the premier institution for Muslims," he added.

Then de facto religious affairs minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa, in response to Asyraf's past calls for an RCI on Tabung Haji, had said there was no need for further probe as all the allegations of abuse had been clearly identified through previous investigations and police reports had also been made against those implicated. - Mkini