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 conduct a thorough and transparent forensic audit of the Tabung Haji (TH) funds within a year. Muhyiddin emphasized the significance of this step following the identification of governance and transparency issues in TH operations, as highlighted in the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report.

He stated that an independent forensic audit is essential to track fund flow, pinpoint instances of fraud, abuse of power, and potential negligence. Anyone found culpable for TH fund losses, due to fraud, abuse of power, or negligence, must face legal consequences, Muhyiddin asserted during his comments on the TH RCI report at a Special Dewan Rakyat Sitting.

The TH recorded an estimated loss range of RM10 billion to RM12.6 billion between 2014 and 2020, a fact Muhyiddin stressed should be addressed with unwavering commitment and decisive action. Meanwhile, MUDA-Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman proposed the formation of a Multi-Agency Task Force to investigate 14 problematic TH investments identified in the RCI report.

The task force should comprise various enforcement bodies such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), police, and Inland Revenue Board to ensure comprehensive investigations. Syed Saddiq also suggested that the scope of investigations should extend to Felda, FGV, and Eagle High. Similar to Syed Saddiq, BN-Simpang Renggam Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad recommended that MACC, police, and relevant enforcement bodies provide periodic updates on the progress of investigations arising from the RCI findings within a defined timeframe.

Hasni also proposed that the special sitting of the Dewan Rakyat serve as a platform for ongoing bipartisan and institution-based parliamentary oversight to monitor and report the implementation of all RCI recommendations regularly.