RCI findings vindicate DAP from sales, misappropriation of assets to non-Muslims

 

THE declassified Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Tabung Haji (TH) has sparked accusations of “spinning” by Madani backers against the pro-Barisan Nasional (BN) faction who sought to dispel the notion of “sakau” (plunder) by limiting the hajj funds’ downfall to “overpaying of dividends to depositors”.

Sharp, satirical  political commentator @injangnation observed on Threads that BN/PAS-slant cybertroopers are merely offering simplistic justifications to cover weaknesses/wrongdoings exposed by the 211-page report which reviewed the TH management and operations from 2014 to 2020.

Sharing some “19 exhibits”, the Threader outlined some prominent points that are being repeated frequently:

• There is no “sakau” word in the RCI findings. 
• The fault lies in excess dividend payments; just collect back if you aren’t satisfied, 
• Why no arrest f if indeed there are wrongdoings? 

This prompted DAP vice-chairman Syahredzan Johan to pose four simple questions to those supposedly obsessed with BN’s innocence based on the RCI findings:TH (at that time) made problematic investments.

1. TH (at that time) should have reported RM1.4 bil loss in 2017.
2. TH (at that time) reported RM3.4 bil profit in 2017.
3. TH (at that time) experienced a financial crisis in 2017.

Such meaningful revelation led to political commentator/activist Liyana Marzuki to clarify that “sakau” used by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and “samun” as mentioned by twice former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad are not found in the RCI report because it is an official document.

Nevertheless, the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-slant lawyer and podcaster pointed to “better nice-hearing wordings” in a Facebook post:

♦️”Creative accounting” such as changing commonly used accounting standards, hiding asset depreciation, declaring profits/grants in the midst of losing money and falsifying information or documents.

♦️The decadence that exists involves criminal offences; the RCI has listed it but requires the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission), PDRM (Royal Malaysia Police) and BNM (Bank Negara Malaysia) to investigate.

The report focuses on corruption offences, misappropriation of facts and documents as well as abuse of power that occurred in TH’s investment transactions and governance.

♦️The RCI also called for an in-depth forensic audit of all “suspicious” and “problematic” investments. This is one of the most important recommendations in the entire report.

Delving further, Liyana pointed to the fact that the then TH chairman (Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim who served from 2013-2018) has never been charged with the offence of TH embezzlement.

“However, he was charged with nine offences of corruption and money laundering for a highway project. However, this case received a DNAA (discharge not amounting to acquittal) and he was released during the time of PM9 Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.”

More importantly, the self-proclaimed centrist political activist also pointed to the fact that the RCI findings made no mention of any non-Muslim nor DAP involvement in the entire TH affairs.

“Also for the record, there is no information in the RCI that confirms the sale or embezzlement of TH assets to non-Muslims or any non-Muslim political party in 2018 when Tun M or PH1.0 took over (the government from BN),” she highlighted.

“So far, this remains an unproven propaganda and slander.”

Elsewhere, one interesting exposé by a netizen is that by Threader Ery Azmi (@ notyoueryazmi) who revealed ‘generous’ bonus payouts “to the board and selected staff” of the hajj funds’ property arm, TH Properties Sdn Bhd, despite its ailing financial health in 2017 and 2018.

The payouts amounting to RM1.15 mil in 2017 and RM1.04 mil in 2018 were approved by board members Datuk Azizan Abd Rahman (chairman), Datuk Roszali Othman, Datuk Mohd Fazillah Mohd Ali and Abd Kadir Sahlan.

The Threader further expressed dismay at three of TH’s failed bailouts between 2014 and 2018 – that of Trurich Resources Sdn Bhd, Abraj Sdn Bhd and Putrajaya Perdana Bhd – all of which occurred during the administration of disgraced former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak. – Focus Malaysia