The Dewan Rakyat will convene for a special one-day sitting on Aug 11 to debate the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report into Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH), with dozens of MPs expected to scrutinise findings of governance failures, financial weaknesses and alleged irregularities at the pilgrimage fund.
The special sitting will begin at 10am and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan is expected to open proceedings with an explanation of the RCI report before MPs take part in a question-and-debate session.
Zulkifli and Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan are expected to wind up the debate.
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said last week that Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul had agreed for the sitting to proceed without breaks to allow sufficient time for MPs to debate the report.
At least 35 to 40 MPs have indicated their intention to participate.
The 211-page RCI report, released on July 29, detailed weaknesses in TH’s management and operations between 2014 and 2020, including governance failures, political interference and profit distributions made without adequately accounting for investment depreciation and declines in fair value.
The report said TH would have recorded a net loss of RM1.4 billion in 2017, rather than the reported RM3.4 billion profit, had Malaysian Financial Reporting Standards been fully applied.
It also highlighted an asset-liability deficit dating back to 2014, high grant payments, accounting practices, rising Hajj financial assistance commitments and weaknesses in oversight.
The RCI further flagged suspicious transactions and alleged concealment of information, recommending a forensic audit and firm action on police reports and complaints related to TH’s management during the period under review.
His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, on Aug 8, called for investigations arising from the RCI findings to be carried out thoroughly to ensure those responsible face appropriate action and to prevent similar issues from recurring.
