Muhyiddin urges govt to complete forensic audit of Tabung Haji funds within a year

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — Former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has called on the government to promptly carry out a thorough and open forensic audit of Tabung Haji (TH) funds and finish it within a year. Muhyiddin emphasized the significance of this step in light of governance and transparency issues uncovered in the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on TH.

He stressed that an independent forensic audit is vital for tracing fund distribution, spotting fraud, misuse of power, and possible negligence. Muhyiddin, who is also the president of Bersatu, stressed that any individuals responsible for TH fund losses, whether through fraud, abuse of power, or negligence, must face justice. The RCI report highlighted that TH suffered estimated cumulative losses of between RM10 billion and RM12.6 billion between 2014 and 2020.

Meanwhile, MUDA-Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman proposed the establishment of a Multi-Agency Task Force to probe 14 problematic TH investments identified in the RCI report. He suggested that the task force should include several enforcement agencies, such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), police, and Inland Revenue Board, to ensure thorough investigations rather than isolated efforts.

Syed Saddiq also suggested forensic audits of the problematic investments. Similarly, BN-Simpang Renggam MP Hasni Mohammad proposed that MACC, police, and relevant enforcement agencies provide regular updates on investigations stemming from the RCI findings, within a set timeframe. Hasni also proposed that the special sitting session marks the start of sustained, bipartisan, and institution-based parliamentary oversight to monitor and report the implementation of all RCI recommendations to the Dewan Rakyat.