Tabung Haji chief's appointment under spotlight

Jul 2: PAS has urged the BN government to come clean on the criteria in the selection of national Muslim pilgrimage fund Tabung Haji's new chairman.

Vice president Mahfuz Omar stressed that the matter was important as it involved the savings of the Muslim public.

“We do not want this issue on Tabung Haji to be raised again. The people’s trust must be fulfilled, not betrayed,” said the Pokok Sena member of parliament.

Baling's BN MP Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, who was not appointed to cabinet, was recently announced to replace Abi Musa Asaari Mohamed Nor as Tabung Haji’s chairman.  Abi had served the post since August 2007.

The appointment is widely seen as part of prime minister Najib Razak’s move to reward party loyalists ahead of UMNO elections in October which could see his position being challenged after BN's disastrous performance in the recent general election.

“I am not disputing the appointment from among fellow MPs but what is important is transparency and qualification, and not making such apppointment as means to reward individuals who could not get into cabinet,” said Mahfuz (right).

Mahfuz said the government must explain its procedures in appointing the Tabung Haji chairman as it has a great impact on the organisation’s direction.

Last year, Mahfuz revealed a Tabung Haji document questioning a RM308,700 transfer from the fund to a personal bank account belonging to its chief executive officer Ismee Ismail.

He had also raised the issue of Tabung Haji’s bad investment decisions, including Silverbird that was mired with financial irregularities, as well as RM500 million worth of investments for Putrajaya’s office buildings