PAS-Wawasan bloc walks out after bid to delay Tabung Haji RCI sitting fails

Tuesday 22 Sep 2026

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KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 11): Lawmakers from PAS and Parti Wawasan Negara (Wawasan) walked out of the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday after their request to postpone a special sitting on the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) was rejected.

Opposition Leader and Wawasan president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (Larut) as well as opposition chief whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Bharu) left the House, joined by Wawasan secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah (Indera Mahkota) and Masjid Tanah MP Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, one of several former Bersatu lawmakers aligned with Wawasan.

The walkout took place as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Zulkifli Hasan stood to deliver a ministerial briefing on the RCI report, which examined TH’s management and operations from 2014 to 2020.

“We will not take part in this debate,” PAS secretary general and Perikatan Nasional chief whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) said before members of PAS and Wawasan left the chamber.

Earlier, Takiyuddin had invoked the Standing Orders to ask that the sitting be deferred to a later date, arguing that Anwar — who had requested the special sitting — should be present to explain the report and respond to questions from MPs.

Anwar was absent after undergoing elective laparoscopic surgery for a para-umbilical hernia on Monday. Takiyuddin’s postponement request also cited Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof’s recovery following heart bypass surgery.

In a letter submitted to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul and received on Aug 10, Takiyuddin said the public importance of the TH issue warranted Anwar’s personal attendance.

“Given that the Tabung Haji issue is highly significant and of considerable public interest, it would be appropriate for the report to be tabled and debated in the presence of the prime minister once he returns to duty,” he said, reading from the letter. “The presence of the prime minister in the Dewan Rakyat is important to provide a comprehensive explanation, particularly as he had previously raised this matter himself.”

Johari, however, ruled that the special sitting should proceed. “If anyone wants to leave, they may leave. Those who want to stay may stay, because the people are watching you,” the Speaker said.

Speaking at a press conference after the walkout, Opposition Leader and Wawasan president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (Wawasan-Larut) said PAS and Wawasan MPs had initially entered the chamber because they wanted the government to clarify the RCI’s findings.

However, he said the bloc decided not to participate after its postponement request was rejected and it became clear that the sitting would not conclude with a formal resolution. Hamzah questioned whether the report substantiated Anwar’s earlier campaign allegations that billions of ringgit had been misappropriated from TH.

“If there were people who took the money, the government has had this report for more than three years,” he said. “Yet, until today, no one has been proven to have done what was alleged. So, what exactly are we being asked to debate?”

However, some Bersatu parliamentarians remained in the chamber and continued participating in the proceedings, a split among opposition lawmakers over whether the debate should proceed in the absence of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (Pagoh) and party vice-president Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin (Putrajaya) stayed in the chamber. Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda) also stayed to follow the debate.

Radzi said the party considered the RCI report too important to be overshadowed by political manoeuvring. Radzi had previously asked the government to extend the one-day special sitting to two days so that more MPs could scrutinise the report’s findings and recommendations.

“Bersatu MPs are members of the opposition, but we will not walk out,” Radzi said. “This is an important issue for the people and does not need political drama. We had even asked for the debate to be extended. The people need the truth.”

Overall, there will be 37 MPs that will take parts in the debates. These 37 MPs comprise 14 from PH, eight from BN, five from Bersatu, three each from GPS and GRS, two independents, one from Warisan and one from Muda.

The special sitting was scheduled to begin with Zulkifli’s briefing, followed by questions and debate among MPs. Zulkifli and Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan were expected to wind up the debate.

Edited ByIsabelle Francis

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