Bank Negara Malaysia is facing scrutiny after reports emerged that the central bank issued five warnings concerning Tabung Haji, the country's Islamic pilgrimage savings fund, according to NST Online.
The report, published on Friday, places the central bank under the spotlight over its handling of the fund, though specific details of the warnings were not disclosed in the summary. The news comes amid broader political and regulatory debate over Tabung Haji's management and governance.
The development follows the release of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report into Tabung Haji. According to Malay Mail, the RCI report has been referred to police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Bank Negara, and the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) for full investigation. The move signals that authorities are pursuing potential legal or financial misconduct findings from the inquiry.
The RCI report has also sparked political friction. Free Malaysia Today reported that former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin called it premature to demand a fresh RCI into Tabung Haji, while criticizing opposition MPs from Perikatan Nasional for walking out during a parliamentary debate on the matter. Meanwhile, the South China Morning Post quoted Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as slamming the walkout as "political drama," suggesting the government views the opposition's actions as disruptive rather than substantive.
Malaysiakini, in a commentary, raised concerns about directors' dereliction of duties, describing it as a "rot that cannot be ignored," which adds to the pressure on those overseeing the fund.
What to watch next: whether the investigations by police, MACC, and other agencies produce public findings, and how Bank Negara responds to questions over its five warnings.
