{
  "id": 6867749,
  "title": "Lawyer denies govt forfeited funds in Abdul Azeez family’s Tabung Haji accounts",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/lawyer-denies-govt-forfeited-funds-in-abdul-azeez-familys-tabung-haji",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-12T04:56:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/09/12/lawyer-denies-govt-forfeited-funds-in-abdul-azeez-familys-tabung-haji-accounts/234929"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR, September 12 — A lawyer for former Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim has refuted allegations that the government seized RM18 million from TH accounts linked to his family. New Straits Times reported that Amer Hamzah Arshad also dismissed claims that Azeez’s wife and children’s savings were tied to TH funds, stating these assertions were unrelated to the criminal charge his client faces. In a press release, Amer clarified that Azeez was not accused of stealing, misappropriating, or misusing the RM193.5 million mentioned in the case. Instead, he contended that the charge at the Sessions Court on September 8 alleged that Azeez leveraged his TH chairmanship to secure the position at Putrajaya Perdana Bhd, resulting in perks such as annual salary, a vehicle, and a personal driver. Amer emphasized that the RM193.5 million figure pertained to TH’s investment in Putrajaya Perdana Bhd, not funds allegedly given, taken, or deposited into the personal accounts of his client or family members. He added that the family’s TH accounts had been previously examined by authorities, yet the savings remained untouched and unclaimed by the government or associated with illegal activities. Amer further stated that the Royal Commission of Inquiry into TH had not found Azeez guilty of taking or misappropriating TH funds for himself or his family. He affirmed that Azeez and his family would pursue legal action against anyone disseminating false, misleading, or defamatory statements regarding the matter. The charge against Azeez stems from an alleged offense at a TH board meeting on August 25, 2014, and is under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which imposes up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine upon conviction. His prosecution is part of a series of cases involving former TH officials following the July release of the Royal Commission of Inquiry report, which highlighted concerning investments, including the Putrajaya Perdana deal.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 — A lawyer for former Tabung Haji (TH) chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim has repor...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Family savings not TH funds, never forfeited, says Azeez's lawyer",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/family-savings-not-th-funds-never-forfeited-says-azeezs-lawyer",
        "published": "2026-09-12T04:19:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Lawyer denies govt forfeited funds in Abdul Azeez family’s Tabung Haji accounts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/lawyer-denies-govt-forfeited-funds-in-abdul-azeez-familys-tabung-haji-6868567",
        "published": "2026-09-12T04:56:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}