Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed confidence that the Cabinet will approve the release of the long-awaited Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Tabung Haji.
Anwar said he was aware of criticism from certain quarters questioning why the report had yet to be made public despite his previous commitment to release it.
He stressed that he was not against making the report available to the public but said the government must follow the proper procedures before doing so.
“I am not reluctant to release it. I agree with making it public, but we need to follow the process,” he said during the launch of Human Resource Development Corporation’s National Training Week at the UiTM campus.
Anwar said he expected the matter to be brought before the Cabinet on Wednesday and believed ministers would agree to the report’s publication.
He explained that the delay in releasing the RCI findings was to prevent any impact on public confidence in Tabung Haji as a key institution managing pilgrims’ savings.
Previously, Anwar said the government was ready to release the report soon to allow the public to understand the RCI’s findings regarding the disposal of Tabung Haji’s strategic assets.
Meanwhile, Anwar also highlighted the financial burden faced by the government due to past management issues involving the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda).
The Prime Minister, who is also Finance Minister, said Putrajaya has to allocate nearly RM1 billion annually to manage Felda’s debts, including RM980 million this year.
He said Felda was previously a profitable organisation under the leadership of respected figures such as Raja Alias Raja Ali and Taib Andak, who were appointed during the administration of Malaysia’s second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.
However, Anwar claimed political interference and the appointment of unsuitable individuals later contributed to Felda’s financial problems.
He said the government now has to use public funds to address debts caused by past failures and mismanagement.
