Rayer accuses Umno of Tabung Haji ‘sandiwara’

Jelutong MP RSN Rayer has criticized Umno for staging a political spectacle over the Tabung Haji royal commission of inquiry (RCI), questioning if the move is meant to shield those responsible for alleged mismanagement from facing legal consequences. In a Facebook post, Rayer questioned the intent behind a public forum held on Tuesday, featuring former auditor-general Madinah Mohamad, who discussed the RCI findings after the report was presented and debated in the Dewan Rakyat.

Rayer argued that the forum raised concerns about how political parties, particularly Umno, were handling matters that should be handled according to law and due process. He emphasized that the RCI is not a political tool but an institutional mechanism to uncover facts, assess responsibility, and deliver evidence-based conclusions.

Rayer urged Umno to show restraint, stating that political parties should refrain from employing political pressure or public campaigns to sway matters falling under the jurisdiction of the executive, legislature, and judiciary. He stressed that the issue extends beyond Umno's stance on the TH RCI, questioning whether the party can prioritize institutional integrity, accountability, and the public interest over partisan considerations.

Rayer highlighted that the process must be respected, especially after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim called for a thorough investigation of the RCI's findings and the prosecution of those responsible. The RCI concluded that Tabung Haji had concealed its actual financial status for years, reporting a RM3.4 billion profit in 2017 when it should have disclosed a net loss of RM1.4 billion according to proper accounting standards—a discrepancy of nearly RM4.8 billion.

Madinah defended the national audit department's audit of Tabung Haji, asserting that the RM4.8 billion disparity between her findings and a separate PricewaterhouseCoopers review does not constitute evidence of an audit failure. She also stated that her team did not find any evidence of theft or misappropriation during their audit of Tabung Haji.