Action Against Wrongdoing Should Not Be Made a Racial or Religious Issue – Anwar

BANGI: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed that action against wrong doing and management weaknesses in any institution should not be made a racial or religious issue.

He said such action is taken based on the need to correct deficiencies in the management of an organisation, regardless of the background or identity of the institution concerned.

Anwar said this approach also applies to action taken to address wrongdoing and management weaknesses in Tabung Haji (TH), which in his view should not be linked to the Islamic image carried by the institution.

“There is a leader of an Islamic party who said, why keep taking action … action against Malay and Islamic agencies. (The government) takes action because (the institution) is under the government.

“If we identify a problem, we will take action and do not make it a racial or religious issue. We do not ask whether it is a Malay company or a government company,” he said.

He said this when speaking at the Prime Minister’s Friendly Session with FELDA 2026 Top Management and Managers programme here, today.

Anwar said Malays and Muslims should be firmer in ensuring that institutions carrying the image of Islam are managed well because these institutions should be exemplary in terms of management, morals and values.

In a related development, Anwar said he is committed to ensuring that investigations regarding governance issues and affairs of the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) are carried out transparently and immediately, in line with the decree of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim.

He said the matter was conveyed to him during an audience with His Majesty, who also decreed that firm action be taken against those found to have caused harm to Felda.

“When I had an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim requested that I ensure that the investigation into Felda’s governance and affairs be conducted transparently, immediately, and that firm action be taken against those who have damaged (Felda) due to their greed,” he said.

Anwar said the glory of an organisation or institution can easily be destroyed due to hasty and greedy actions if the principles of integrity are neglected.

Previously, Pas President Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang claimed that the controversy surrounding TH was deliberately blown out of proportion by certain parties simply because the financial institution carries an “Islamic brand.”

The Marang Member of Parliament said his party does not deny the existence of deficiencies or wrongdoing in the Islamic financial institution, but claimed that greater deficiencies in other institutions did not receive the same attention.

BERNAMA