Umno missed chance to be ‘adult’ in TH issue, says Shahril

Former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan has criticized the party for missing an opportunity to demonstrate maturity in addressing the controversy surrounding Tabung Haji, following the release of the royal commission of inquiry report. On his podcast, Shahril highlighted that Umno had two options - to acknowledge past missteps in managing Tabung Haji or to maintain that the RCI findings were a result of a selective prosecution meant to tarnish the party's image.

However, following a forum held by Umno, Shahril observed that the party opted for the latter choice. The forum featured former auditor-general Madinah Mohamad and former Treasury secretary-general Irwan Serigar Abdullah, among other speakers, who largely defended Tabung Haji, claiming it had no problems, was not insolvent, and did not incur losses.

Shahril argued that the RCI's findings stating that Tabung Haji's liabilities surpassed its assets were undeniable facts. He also challenged claims that Tabung Haji never experienced losses, citing Madinah's consideration to issue a qualified audit certificate in 2018 due to the potential threat of a bank run. Furthermore, Shahril pointed to the 2018 acquisition of Urusharta Jamaah Sdn Bhd as a bailout, reinforcing his argument that Umno failed to project a more mature and responsible image to voters while attempting to rebuild trust in the party.

Shahril emphasized the importance of appealing to not only hardcore voters, but also those who are undecided and could potentially return their support to Umno. He concluded by expressing his belief that this was a missed opportunity for the party to appear more responsible and responsible to its constituents.