KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 11): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today criticised the Opposition, accusing it of attempting to divert attention from issues involving Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) by turning him into the subject of political polemics.
He said the focus should instead be on those he described as “traitors” to TH and the interests of the institution’s depositors, rather than making him the target of debate.
“Do you want to debate about me or Tabung Haji? Do you want to concern yourselves with me or the betrayal of Tabung Haji?
“Muslim Malays have been betrayed, yet there are still those who want to play political drama? Especially when it comes from those who talk so loudly about the interests of Malays and Muslims,” he said in a Facebook post.
He also questioned the stance of the PAS-led Perikatan Nasional (PN) on the issue, particularly concerning the interests of TH depositors from various walks of life.
“Does PN, led by PAS, not care about the interests of the less privileged, fishermen, farmers, teachers, police personnel, soldiers and retirees who work hard to save money in Tabung Haji to fulfil the fifth pillar of Islam?” he asked.
The post came after several opposition Members of Parliament walked out of Dewan Rakyat and did not take part in Tuesday morning’s special sitting to discuss the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Tabung Haji.
They protested against Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul’s decision to proceed with the ministerial briefing in the absence of the Prime Minister and reject a proposal by PN chief whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan to adjourn the sitting.
The prime minister had earlier apologised for being unable to attend the special sitting as he was undergoing physiotherapy following an elective laparoscopic procedure to treat a para-umbilical hernia.
The special Dewan Rakyat sitting was held to hear the ministerial briefing on the TH RCI report, as well as the efforts and measures taken to restore the institution’s financial position.
On July 29, the 211-page RCI report was made public. It contained various findings on weaknesses in the institution’s management and operations between 2014 and 2020, as well as 25 recommendations for improvement, of which 75 per cent had been implemented by TH as of July 30.
The government announced the establishment of the RCI in 2021, followed by the appointment of its members on Jan 20, 2022. The RCI report was subsequently presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Aug 30, 2022.
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