KUALA LUMPUR, 12 August 2026 — Senior Political Adviser to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Utama Tengku Zafrul Aziz has explained that the MADANI government deliberately delayed the full public release of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Lembaga Tabung Haji to safeguard the pilgrims’ fund during its recovery phase and prevent a repeat of mass withdrawals.
In a post on X, Tengku Zafrul said the decision was not an attempt to conceal the findings. Instead, priority was given to restoring Tabung Haji’s financial position first. He recalled that in 2019 alone, depositors withdrew about RM6 billion in a short period. Releasing the report while the fund was still weak could have triggered even larger outflows and placed far greater pressure on the institution.
“The priority at that time was to restore Tabung Haji first. And today we can already see the results,” he wrote. Religious Affairs Minister Dr Zulkifli Hasan has confirmed that 75 per cent of the RCI’s 25 recommendations have already been implemented.
Tengku Zafrul called for full transparency going forward. The government should list all 25 recommendations, clearly state which have been completed and how, and set timelines for the remaining 25 per cent. He stressed that fixing the system alone is not enough — past wrongdoing must also be thoroughly investigated.
Tabung Haji has lodged six reports with the police (PDRM) and another six with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (SPRM). Investigations are under way and several individuals have been detained. Legal processes must be allowed to take their course, he said, with action taken against anyone found guilty.
The ultimate goal, Tengku Zafrul emphasised, goes beyond identifying culprits. Weaknesses that allowed the problems to occur must never be repeated. Behind the figures are millions of ordinary Muslims who saved small amounts — RM50 or RM100 at a time — over many years, not for holidays or cars, but with the hope of one day performing the Hajj.
“When Tabung Haji faced problems, what was at stake was not merely the numbers in a financial report. It was the money and the hopes of millions of Muslims,” he said. The 211-page RCI report, which examined management and operations between 2014 and 2020, should not end as a document on a shelf. It must result in a stronger, more transparent and safer Tabung Haji for every depositor.
“The 75 per cent that has been done must be shown. The remaining 25 per cent must be completed,” Tengku Zafrul concluded.
About The Author
