MELAKA (Aug 15): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has stressed that acts of “sakau” (siphoning of funds) did occur in Lembaga Tabung Haji, following the loss of billions of ringgit as highlighted in the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on the institution.

The finance minister said the term 'sakau' should not be avoided or questioned if the facts showed that money had been lost from an institution entrusted with managing the savings of Muslims.

“Some people do not like the term ‘sakau’. I want to repeat here in Melaka that there was indeed sakau in Tabung Haji. RM12 billion was lost...wasn’t that sakau? There was indeed sakau,” he said when delivering his presidential policy speech at the 2026 Keadilan National Congress here on Saturday.

Anwar said action must be taken against those responsible regardless of their position or political background, as the consequences of the actions of a few individuals ultimately had to be borne by the people as a whole.

“Only some were involved in the sakau, but the ones who had to pay and bear the burden were all Malaysians, regardless of race or religion,” he said.

Anwar also questioned why the RCI report on Tabung Haji, which had been completed before he became the prime minister, was not disclosed earlier.

He said the government could not allow the issue to remain hidden or be avoided from open debate, including in Parliament on Tuesday.

In this regard, the prime minister expressed his appreciation to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan and Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan for their courage in appearing in Parliament to explain and answer questions related to the Tabung Haji RCI.

Anwar said instructions had been issued for stern action to be taken against those found to have committed offences.

"Regardless of which party they are from, if they are wrong, arrest and charge them," he said.

The prime minister said firmness in taking action should not be construed as political vengeance, adding that he himself would face criticism whether he acted or refrained from acting.

He said some individuals who were supposedly intelligent and highly educated appeared to be firm in fighting corruption and abuse of power, but this was merely hypocrisy because any action that did not favour those they supported would be labelled as revenge.

"Although they may appear intelligent, it is actually full of hypocrisy because when we do not take action, you say we are slow, but when we take action, you call it revenge," Anwar said.

Meanwhile, the prime minister said the King, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, had also decreed that efforts to uncover weaknesses in the management of institutions involving the people's interests should not stop with Tabung Haji.

He said that after the Tabung Haji issue is resolved, attention would be turned to the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda), in line with the government's responsibility to ensure that people's institutions are managed transparently and responsibly.

Anwar stressed that a more stringent enforcement process would begin now to ensure that those who committed wrongdoing are held accountable, regardless of their position, party or influence.

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