No need for fresh RCI into Tabung Haji, says DAP’s Preakas

PETALING JAYA: There is no need for a fresh Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the management of Tabung Haji as existing audit and parliamentary oversight mechanisms are already in place, says DAP’s Kota Kemuning assemblyman Preakas Sampunathan.

Preakas said the previous RCI had been established specifically to examine issues surrounding Tabung Haji, including concerns over what had been described as “creative accounting”, and should not be conflated with the institution’s subsequent management and financial affairs.

“There is no need for a new RCI. The previous RCI was established specifically to look into the issues that happened at that time, including the so-called creative accounts.

“We need to understand the purpose of the RCI. It was to establish what had happened and how the interests and deposits of Tabung Haji depositors were affected,” he told.

Preakas said Tabung Haji had also been subject to audits from 2018 onwards, providing an existing mechanism to scrutinise its management and finances.

“If the issue is the management of Tabung Haji from 2018 until today, that already falls within the scope of the existing audit and oversight mechanisms.

“So I don’t think we need to divert the issue. From the government audit perspective, there are reports and accounts that have been prepared to examine these matters,” he said.

Asked whether he agreed with calls for a new RCI, Preakas was unequivocal.

“No. I don’t agree. It is not necessary,” he said.
He said greater reliance should instead be placed on existing institutional mechanisms, including parliamentary scrutiny of government-linked companies and entities.

“Today, government-linked companies and entities are being discussed in Parliament. Previously, we did not have mechanisms like this.

“After Pakatan Harapan took over the government, we agreed that these entities should be audited and the relevant matters brought to Parliament for discussion,” he said.

Preakas said the focus should therefore be on ensuring transparency and making full use of existing oversight mechanisms rather than establishing another RCI.

“If they want to review these matters, there are already mechanisms to do so. What is important is transparency,” he said.