PAC to probe Tabung Haji governance and RCI recommendations

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 — The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has unanimously decided to investigate governance, financial, and investment issues at the Lembaga Tabung Haji (LTH) following revelations in the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on the organization's management from 2014 to 2020, which was declassified on July 29.

Committee chair Datuk Wira Mas Ermieyati Samsudin emphasized the seriousness of the disclosures, stating they could undermine the confidence of Muslims in the country if not properly addressed. She clarified that the PAC's jurisdiction, based on Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders, Treasury Instructions, and Prime Minister’s Department administrative circulars, allows them to take this action despite the fact that the RCI investigation was thorough.

The PAC intends to focus on the implementation status of the RCI's recommendations, rather than repeating the inquiry. The committee will soon finalize the formal terms of reference and witness list during a special meeting. MAS ERMIEYATI, drawing from the PAC's past handling of sensitive investigations, underscored their capability to manage such complex matters.

They plan to review the RCI report, the Auditor-General's Report, and an independent audit by PwC to assess the management of depositors' funds. This decision follows Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's endorsement of the PAC's role in examining Tabung Haji's operations post-2017, aimed at clarifying facts and dispelling misconceptions about the fund's management.