UMNO secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has rejected attempts to implicate him in controversies surrounding Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH), saying his position as deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) did not give him the authority to intervene in the institution's operations, policy decisions or agreements.
He said his constitutional position as a deputy minister did not allow him to exercise powers vested in a minister, with the respective roles of ministers, deputy ministers, parliamentary secretaries and political secretaries clearly provided for under the Federal Constitution.
“Wow, it seems there is a concerted effort to tarnish and destroy my image by trying to associate me with every issue involving Tabung Haji.
“For your information, I was asked to serve as the head of the Malaysian Hajj delegation in 2017, replacing the minister. As I happened to be in Makkah, I was invited to represent the minister at the ceremony.
“For your information as well, a deputy minister has no authority to be involved in the process or approve any of Tabung Haji's activities and operations, let alone its agreements,” he said in a post on Threads.
Asyraf was responding to a video posted on the same platform showing a ceremony he attended to formalise a 10-year extension of hotel lease agreements in Madinah and Makkah between TH and Al-Rawda.
He said the video appeared to have been used to associate him with matters involving the pilgrim fund despite his lack of authority over its administration.
Asyraf also cited the Tabung Haji Act, saying the institution's administration and operations were managed by its chief executive officer and management.
He stressed that he had never been called in for questioning over the matter since his appointment as deputy minister, either by the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) or enforcement authorities, including the police, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).
“This is because I was not a party with any authority or involvement, whether directly or indirectly. In fact, the Tabung Haji RCI Report did not mention or implicate me at all in my capacity as deputy minister,” he said.
His remarks come amid continued scrutiny of TH's governance and management following the release of the RCI report, which examined issues surrounding the institution's administration and past decisions. - August 14, 2026
