Fahmi praises Bersatu MPs for taking part in Tabung Haji RCI report sitting

 The communications minister contrasts their attendance with the walkout by other PN MPs.

Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said the Bersatu MPs were right to remain in the Dewan Rakyat, unlike MPs from the other PN parties, including PAS and Wawasan, who staged a walkout.

PUTRAJAYA:

Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil has praised Bersatu’s MPs for taking part in the debate on the royal commission of inquiry report on Tabung Haji at the special parliamentary sitting yesterday.

Fahmi said they were right to remain in the Dewan Rakyat, unlike MPs from the other Perikatan Nasional opposition parties, including PAS and Wawasan, who refused to take part in the debate.

“At least Bersatu’s MPs carried out their duties by taking part in the special parliamentary sitting on the TH RCI report,” he said after a HKHM (National Day-Malaysia Day) 2026 sponsorship ceremony at his ministry today.

A number of opposition PN MPs walked out of the Dewan Rakyat yesterday after Speaker Johari Abdul rejected their request to postpone the sitting because Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was unable to attend.

Fahmi pointed out that the RCI was set up in 2021 when PAS leaders and current opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin were members of the Cabinet, and that the report was completed in 2022, when they were still in government.

He also noted that the religious affairs minister at the time was from PAS.

Responding to calls for a fresh RCI into TH, Fahmi said the Cabinet would have to decide on the matter, with the establishment of an RCI also requiring the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“The Cabinet would have to decide whether to continue or expand the investigation. And because this would involve a royal commission of inquiry, the decision would also require the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s consent,” he said.

Yesterday, two MPs from Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan said a fresh RCI into TH’s management and operations was needed, as the scope of the existing inquiry covered only 2014 to 2020.

Isam Isa (BN-Tampin) said the new RCI should identify weaknesses in the management and operations of TH from 2021 to 2025, while RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) said it should identify those responsible for TH’s financial and management problems.

Fahmi said the government would refer the RCI’s findings to the authorities for further investigation, which would also take into consideration additional information obtained from finance minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan and religious affairs minister Zulkifli Hasan. - FMT