- The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has unanimously agreed to begin proceedings to investigate governance, financial and investment weaknesses at Tabung Haji.
- PAC chairman Datuk Wira Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said the decision followed the findings of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report into Tabung Haji's management and operational issues from 2014 to 2020, disclosed to the public on July 29.
- She said PAC viewed the RCI's disclosure as extremely serious, warning it could erode the confidence of Muslims in the country if not addressed appropriately.
- Several questions remain following the RCI report's disclosure, which was debated in the Dewan Rakyat during a special sitting on Aug 11.
- Mas Ermieyati, who is also the Masjid Tanah MP, stated that PAC has clear jurisdiction under the Standing Orders of the Dewan Rakyat, the Treasury Instructions, and General Circular No. 1 on the Organisation of Ministries under the Prime Minister's Department, making it PAC's duty to begin proceedings.
- The proceedings will not repeat the RCI investigation but will focus on the actual status and progress of implementing the RCI's recommendations, in line with PAC's core function.
- The title, Terms of Reference, and witness list for the proceedings have yet to be finalised, and PAC will hold a special meeting for that purpose.
- PAC will use documents such as the RCI report, the Auditor-General's report, and an audit report by PwC as references, and is committed to conducting the investigation transparently and fairly to restore depositors' full confidence in Tabung Haji.
- PAC has experience investigating major and sensitive issues, including the 1MDB proceedings in 2016, proceedings over RM19.4bil in outstanding Goods and Services Tax (GST) refund claims in 2019, and proceedings into the procurement of second-generation Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) for the Royal Malaysian Navy in 2022.
- PAC's proceedings into the LCS procurement began after the committee received a report from the Government Governance, Procurement and Financial Investigation Committee (JKSTUPKK) in 2019.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has launched an investigation into Tabung Haji following a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report that revealed significant governance and financial weaknesses from 2014 to 2020. The PAC's chairman, Datuk Wira Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, emphasized that the investigation aims to ensure the implementation of the RCI's recommendations rather than rehashing previous findings.12
"Several questions remain following the disclosure of the RCI report, which was later debated in the Dewan Rakyat during the special sitting on Aug 11," she stated. The PAC, as a bipartisan select committee, is tasked with addressing these issues to restore confidence among depositors.489
The proceedings will utilize documents such as the RCI report, the Auditor-General's report, and an audit report by PwC to ensure transparency and accountability. "PAC is committed to conducting this investigation transparently and fairly to ensure continued accountability in the management of public funds," Mas Ermieyati added.
The committee has a history of investigating major issues, including the 1MDB scandal and the procurement of second-generation Littoral Combat Ships for the Royal Malaysian Navy. The title, Terms of Reference, and witness list for the Tabung Haji proceedings are yet to be finalized, with a special meeting planned for this purpose.10
“The RCI report, covering 2014-2020, was debated in the Dewan Rakyat on Aug 11, with several questions remaining. PAC will use the RCI report, Auditor-General's report, and PwC audit as references, aiming to restore depositors' full confidence in Tabung Haji.”
The Star
