PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government's decision to delay the publication of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) was intended to prevent a crisis of confidence among depositors while allowing the pilgrim fund to recover from years of financial difficulties.
Speaking at the Pakatan Harapan "Kekal Harapan" Grand Finale campaign in Labu, Negeri Sembilan, Anwar said the government had initially withheld the report after taking office to ensure reforms and recovery measures could be implemented before making its findings public.
He said the decision followed a briefing by RCI chairman Tun Md Raus Sharif in 2023.
"Why was it delayed? That was our collective decision. I became Prime Minister in 2022 and in 2023, when Tun Md Raus Sharif briefed us, we had to decide whether to release the report or not. Tabung Haji asked us to wait for a while.
"The reason was that we wanted to put TH back on the right track. It had suffered huge losses and its businesses had collapsed. We wanted to give it the opportunity to recover because if the RCI report had been released too early before improvements were made, people would have withdrawn their deposits from TH and the institution could have gone bankrupt," he said.
Anwar said the government ultimately decided to declassify the report after facing sustained calls from various quarters demanding its publication.
"So, we delayed it for a while, but before we could make our recommendations, some people challenged me... 'Anwar, if you are brave enough to accuse others of looting, then reveal it.' I said thank you — it was exactly the opportunity I needed," he said.
The Cabinet yesterday agreed to declassify the RCI report, which will be tabled and debated at a special sitting of the Dewan Rakyat.
Anwar said the findings should serve as a lesson on the importance of ensuring institutions established for the benefit of the Malay and Muslim community are governed with integrity and accountability.
He stressed that while elected leaders were not without shortcomings, public office must never be abused for personal gain.
"This reminder is important, but there are those who say, 'Anwar keeps talking about looting, where is the evidence?'
"Well, read the 12 volumes of the RCI report. The Cabinet has made two decisions. First, to release the report. Second, for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and Bank Negara Malaysia to investigate everything uncovered in it.
"Am I accusing anyone? No. I am saying that if there is wrongdoing, let the investigations take their course. That is what they asked for, so there is no need to challenge me," he said.
Anwar emphasised that the investigations would determine whether any offences had been committed, adding that the government's role was to ensure the relevant authorities were allowed to carry out their duties independently and without interference. - July 30, 2026
