Kuala lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today criticised the Opposition, accusing it of attempting to divert attention from issues involving Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) by turning him into the subject of political polemics. He said the focus should instead be on those he described as 'traitors' to TH and the interests of the institution's depositors, rather than making him the target of debate.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Prime Minister expressed his frustration in a Facebook post, questioning whether the debate should focus on him or the alleged betrayal of Tabung Haji. He highlighted that Muslim Malays have been betrayed and criticized those who engage in political drama, especially when they claim to prioritize the interests of Malays and Muslims.
He further questioned the stance of the PAS-led Perikatan Nasional (PN) on the issue, particularly concerning the interests of TH depositors from various walks of life. He asked if PN, led by PAS, was indifferent to the concerns of the less privileged individuals who work hard to save money in Tabung Haji to fulfill their religious obligations.
The comments came after several Opposition Members of Parliament walked out of the Dewan Rakyat, refusing to participate in a special sitting to discuss the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) Report on Tabung Haji. They protested against the decision of Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul to proceed with the ministerial briefing in the absence of the Prime Minister and rejected a proposal by PN Chief Whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan to adjourn the sitting.
Prime Minister Anwar had earlier apologized for his absence, explaining that he was undergoing physiotherapy following an elective laparoscopic procedure to treat a para-umbilical hernia. The Special Dewan Rakyat Sitting was convened to discuss the TH RCI Report and to outline the measures taken to restore the financial position of the institution.
The 211-page RCI report, made public on July 29, detailed various weaknesses in the management and operations of the institution between 2014 and 2020, and included 25 recommendations for improvement. As of July 30, 75 percent of these recommendations had been implemented by TH. The government established the RCI in 2021, with its members appointed on January 20, 2022, and the report was presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on August 30, 2022.