Dapatan RCI TH perlu disusuli siasatan penguat kuasa, kata Armizan

Dato Armizan Mohd Ali emphasized the importance of ensuring the rights and justice of the people, as well as the Tabung Haji fund, receive proper scrutiny. The investigation into the Tabung Haji (TH) should be conducted with comprehensive inquiries from the agencies of state power in a clear, unbiased, and professional manner. The issue of TH management and operations between 2014 and 2020 has been a contentious matter, sparking widespread allegations of defamation.

This prolonged dispute has left many Malaysians confused about who are the actual victims and who the defamers are. Such prolonged disputes also seem to overshadow two more crucial issues - the need to safeguard TH and its 9.7 million depositors, including 597,983 from Sabah, and the use of public funds for the same purpose. While the use of public funds is necessary, the burden of responsibility must be managed and will be inherited for a long time.

This debt has closed the room for additional fiscal space required for more infrastructure development and additional assistance to the people's livelihoods. Armizan stated that further action such as surveillance at the state power agency should be taken, especially when discussions and conclusions are held elsewhere. Any investigation must be conducted with clarity, impartiality, and full professionalism to ensure justice for everyone and no party should be harmed.

The most important is the rights and justice for all citizens and TH depositors. Armizan also raised concerns about the integrity of the audit report presented to the Council of Ministers, Parliament, and the people. In this context, he requested the government to make a decision on issues related to the audit as mentioned in Articles 105, 106, and 107 of the Constitution, by setting clear parameters on the responsibility and mandate given to the Auditor General.

In the current governance context, Armizan noted that among the changes implemented is the decision that each Auditor General's Report (AG Report) should not only be presented to Parliament but also allow room for debate, making it a regular agenda item in Parliament meetings. Starting in June 2023, these AG Reports have been discussed openly, and I myself have responded to audit-related issues involving KPDN, he said, welcoming efforts by the Department of Audit to introduce the Auditor General Dashboard (AGD) which provides access to audit actions conducted.

'Dig the hole, fill the hole' Armizan also urged the government to provide a stronger legal framework and governance structure to stop the practice of 'dig the hole, fill the hole' in managing funds of religious and government organizations. He warned that financial decisions made to gain short-term popularity may cause the country to bear greater consequences in the future.

"Digging a hole by offering short-term popularity to the people will only create a vast gap in the country's revenue and debt. This practice needs to be abandoned because it is a disease that will destroy the future of the nation and its people, especially the coming generations," he said.