Ideas urges govt to update status of Tabung Haji RCI recommendations

The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) has urged the government to update the public on the implementation status of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) recommendations on Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH), including identifying which recommendations remain outstanding and setting timelines for them.

"Transparency must be demonstrated not only through the publication of the inquiry report, but also in the implementation of the recommendations put forward," the think tank said in a statement.

Ideas was responding to religious affairs minister Zulkifli Hasan's explanation on July 30 that the government had already implemented about 75% of the 25 RCI recommendations.

Zulkifli also said the government would expedite the implementation of the remaining recommendations, including limiting the powers of the religious affairs minister in the management of the haj.

The 252-page RCI report on the inquiry into TH's management and operations from 2014 to 2020 was declassified and made public on Wednesday, after the commission completed it in July 2022.

Among other things, the RCI found that TH had concealed its true financial position for years. It recorded a profit of RM3.4 billion for 2017 when, under proper accounting standards, it should have recorded a net loss of RM1.4 billion — a gap of nearly RM4.8 billion.