Agong consents to RCI on Tabung Haji

The government has obtained the consent of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah to set up a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to investigate Lembaga Tabung Haji’s (TH) management and operational issues from 2014 to 2020.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the setting up of the RCI was in accordance with the Commission of Inquiry Act 1950 (Act 119).

Wan Junaidi said the king had also consented to the appointment of six RCI members, including former chief justice Md Raus Sharif as its chairman.

The other five are former chief secretary to the government Samsudin Osman, RHB Group founder Abdul Rashid Hussain, former Bank Muamalat Malaysia chairman Mohd Munir Abdul Majid, Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah vice-chancellor Asmadi Mohamed Naim and Malay Chambers of Commerce Malaysia deputy president Norsyahrin Hamidon.

Wan Junaidi said the RCI members were those with calibre as well as vast expertise and experience in their respective fields: the judiciary, civil service, administration, economics, finance, investment, capital markets, banking, Islamic finance and accounting.

“Those appointed have been ensured to be independent and do not have any direct links to TH.

“This is to ensure that the investigation can be conducted transparently and fairly and to avoid any issues involving conflict of interest with the relevant parties,” he said in a statement today.

Wan Junaidi said the appointments will be effective from Jan 20 to July 19, with the commission given six months to carry out an investigation and prepare a report to be presented to Sultan Abdullah.