Umno urged to explain RCI findings of 'election pressure' to pay high dividends

 

Tabung Haji RCI

• Kampar MP Chong Zhemin urged Umno to explain a royal commission of inquiry’s finding that political pressure ahead of an election led to Tabung Haji paying dividends in 2017 beyond its financial capacity, worsening the fund’s crisis.

  The dividend announcement was in February 2018, three months before the 14th general election.

  Chong (above) noted the report did not identify who applied the pressure, but that three Umno politicians were on Tabung Haji’s board at the time - chairperson Abdul Azeez Rahim, Badruddin Amiruldin, and Rosni Sohar.

  

  Former Baling MP Abdul Azeez Rahim

  Then-religious affairs minister Jamil Khir Baharom, who had the power to appoint board members, was also an Umno leader.

  While the report did not amount to criminal findings against the four, Chong said Umno must explain who exerted the pressure and who knew about it.

• Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan, meanwhile, pointed out that the RCI acknowledged that the first Pakatan Harapan government had to implement a recovery plan.

  The report also noted Harapan’s transfer of troubled Tabung Haji assets into a special purpose vehicle helped cushion the fund’s financial position during the Covid-19 pandemic.

  “It’s clear right, who rehabilitated Tabung Haji?” he said. - Mkini