Kuala lumpur: Any investigation related to the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) must be conducted in a transparent and independent manner to uphold the rights and ensure justice for depositors, as well as Malaysians as a whole. Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali emphasized the need for a professional approach in the investigation to ensure that information and understanding are based on factual and legal assessments.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the issue has sparked disputes, debates, and accusations among various parties, with terms like 'slander' being frequently mentioned. Armizan highlighted the difficulty in distinguishing victims of slander from those making defamatory accusations, leading to public confusion. He welcomed further investigative actions by relevant enforcement agencies to address these issues.
Armizan, also the Papar Member of Parliament (MP), pointed out that immediate action on the RCI report's findings and thorough examination of improvement recommendations are crucial for completing the TH recovery process. He commended the TH administration for its recovery initiatives that have restored TH to a stable position.
Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri supported maintaining haj affairs management under the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) while keeping finance and investment matters under the Finance Ministry. Nancy argued that this division of responsibilities reduces overlap and ensures proper handling by experts.
On political appointments to the board of directors, Nancy stated that the focus should be on the individual's integrity, qualifications, experience, and ability rather than their political background. She advocated for specific criteria and clear selection methods for board appointments to ensure merit-based decisions.
The Special Dewan Rakyat Sitting allows MPs to review the TH RCI report, released on July 29, following the government's decision to make its findings public. The report highlights weaknesses in TH's management and operations between 2014 and 2020 and offers 25 improvement recommendations, with 75 percent implemented by TH as of July 30.