Govt mulls multi-agency task force for Tabung Haji investigations

Tuesday 22 Sep 2026

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KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 11): The government is considering establishing a multi-agency task force to coordinate investigations into alleged wrongdoing involving Lembaga Tabung Haji, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.

Amir said the government is considering the proposal alongside calls for a stronger supervisory mechanism to prevent future governance and investment failures at the institution. This comes as lawmakers on Tuesday demanded an urgent forensic audit and a dedicated multi-agency task force to investigate at least 14 loss-making investments made by the pilgrim's fund, after a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) found irregularities and a lack of due diligence in the fund’s investment processes.

"We will consider this process for improvement. We do not want this issue to happen again," Amir said when winding up the special debate on the RCI report that investigated the management and operations of Tabung Haji between 2014 and 2020, a sentiment subsequently echoed by Religious Affairs Minister Datuk Dr Zulkifli Hasan.

During the debate, Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman was among the few that called for the immediate establishment of a multi-agency task force to investigate the 14 investments, arguing that the probe should not depend on a single enforcement agency.

He proposed that the task force include the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the Royal Malaysian Police and the Inland Revenue Board.

“The government must announce the establishment of a multi-agency task force to investigate every single one of the 14 investments that have been proven to be problematic,” Syed Saddiq said.

Former prime minister and Pagoh MP Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin separately called for a one-year forensic audit of the 14 investments to trace the flow of funds and identify any potential fraud.

Both lawmakers said investigations should be carried out without political favour, given the impact on millions of TH depositors.

“Don't act only based on whether they are friends or foes. Because in reality, this is not about me or you ... This is about the rights of over 10 million depositors and the rights of Muslims in Malaysia,” Syed Saddiq said.

The RCI report, released on July 29, recommended forensic audits into 14 problematic investments, including delisted FGV Holdings Bhd, and highlighted significant governance weaknesses that contributed to a deterioration in TH’s assets.

The commission noted that TH had “too many layers and deliberations” in its investment decision-making process, but this did not translate into sound investment outcomes. As a result, the RCI said the high number of problematic investments was “not surprising”.

Separately, Papar MP and Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali highlighted several questionable transactions involving companies including Putrajaya Perdana, Ar-Rawdah and Deru Semangat.

Armizan said the RCI had found that some investment decisions were approved by individuals who did not have the necessary investment expertise.

“The RCI report clearly found that the investment process at Tabung Haji was irregular,” he said.

Armizan urged the government to act on the RCI’s recommendation for forensic audits of 14 loss-making investments, saying they were linked to governance and poor due diligence rather than normal market movements. He also said ongoing political accusations had confused the public.

“The reality out there is that both periods have become a subject of debate and mutual accusations, to the extent that terms like ‘fitnah’ (slander) are widely used... As a result, the majority of the public is increasingly confused,” he said.

Armizan stressed that any follow-up investigations should be based on facts and carried out independently.

“Essentially, any investigation must be conducted transparently, independently, and with full professionalism to ensure justice for all,” he said, adding that the rights of TH’s depositors must remain the priority.

Edited ByPresenna Nambiar

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