BERSAMA de facto leader Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has called on Tabung Haji to provide further clarification over its zakat payments, claiming that key issues raised in the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report remain unresolved.
Rafizi said he acknowledged Tabung Haji’s statement issued on Tuesday (Aug 4), in which the pilgrimage fund maintained that the zakat issue highlighted in the RCI report did not arise as all zakat payments made by the institution were carried out on behalf of depositors, while Tabung Haji itself was not subject to zakat obligations.
However, he said the explanation did not sufficiently address wider concerns raised by the RCI, particularly those relating to the institution’s decision to change its deposit contract structure and the consequences for depositors.
"I hope the relevant authorities, including Tabung Haji management, will be patient with me as I continue asking questions on behalf of the public.
"More so when not many people are willing to ask questions or seek clarification on sensitive issues such as this," he said in a statement on Wednesday.
Rafizi said he had previously raised concerns over Tabung Haji’s governance and financial management but faced denials, accusations of defamation and even a police report that later resulted in legal proceedings against him.
He said the RCI report, released a decade later, had validated several matters that were previously disputed by the institution’s management.
"I hope Tabung Haji management under the Madani administration will address the issues raised with greater openness," he said.
Rafizi highlighted the RCI’s findings concerning Tabung Haji’s 2016 decision to change its deposit structure from Mudharabah to Wadi’ah Yad Dhamanah, saying the move had fundamentally altered the relationship between the institution and its depositors.
He said the RCI had questioned why the change was implemented without a clear explanation and whether depositors had provided consent for investment returns to be used for purposes such as subsidies.
"The issue raised by the Royal Commission regarding zakat is deeper than what was covered in Tabung Haji’s media statement," he said.
Rafizi said the RCI found that the change in contract structure could have affected zakat responsibilities, as depositors may have become liable to pay zakat on their savings instead of Tabung Haji making payments on their behalf as an institution.
He added that the commission had also raised concerns that zakat payments made under the existing arrangement could be lower than amounts calculated based on savings zakat obligations.
Rafizi said Tabung Haji had yet to respond to three key issues:
Whether depositors were informed of and agreed to the 2016 contract change, particularly regarding the use of investment returns for subsidies.
Whether the transition from Mudharabah to Wadi’ah Yad Dhamanah altered the nature of the relationship between Tabung Haji and depositors, including their zakat responsibilities.
Whether the zakat amount paid by Tabung Haji differed from what would have been required if the payments were calculated under savings zakat principles.
He said Tabung Haji’s position that zakat had been paid on behalf of depositors, without directly addressing these concerns, could indicate that the institution disagreed with the RCI’s findings.
Rafizi also pointed out that one of the RCI members, Professor Dr Asmadi Mohamed Naim, was an Islamic finance expert with experience in Shariah advisory roles, while Tabung Haji chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Hussain was among the commission members who endorsed the findings concerning the zakat issue.
"I hope the relevant authorities will continue providing explanations that can clarify the matters raised, particularly regarding the status of zakat payments.
"We should not repeat the episode 10 years ago where questions raised by ordinary citizens like myself were dismissed outright," he said. - August 5, 2026
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