Most opposition MPs walked out of the Dewan Rakyat today after their request to postpone the special sitting on the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Tabung Haji was rejected.
Opposition chief whip Takiyuddin Hassan, the PN-Kota Bharu MP, called for the sitting to be postponed as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was unable to attend while recovering from surgery.
“If he’s here, we can debate. But if he’s not here, we might as well just hold a press conference,” he said, arguing that Anwar’s presence was important because the prime minister had requested the special sitting.
Takiyuddin also pointed out that, according to the agenda, there would be no vote on the RCI report today, while MPs had only received copies of the report this morning.
Speaker orders sitting to continue
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul ruled that the proceedings should continue, as Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and other ministers were present to represent the Cabinet.
“I have made my decision. Please proceed,” he said as Perikatan Nasional (PN) MPs walked out of the Dewan Rakyat.
However, Bersatu MPs aligned with former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, including the PN-Pagoh group, refused to join the walkout.
Radzi rejects ‘political drama’
Radzi Jidin, the PN-Putrajaya MP, said they would remain in the chamber because the issue was important to the public.
“We will not walk out. This is an important issue for the people and there is no need for such political drama. In fact, we are now asking for our MPs to be given more time to debate,” he said in a Facebook post.
Anwar underwent elective laparoscopic surgery yesterday to treat an abdominal hernia, prompting PN to call for the special sitting to be convened at a later date.
Religious affairs minister Zulkifli Hasan tabled the report today, while finance minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan is expected to wind up the debate.
RCI report highlights Tabung Haji weaknesses
The RCI report on the pilgrims’ fund was declassified and released to the public on July 29, about four years after the commission completed it in July 2022.
It found serious weaknesses in Tabung Haji’s governance, investment and financial management between 2014 and 2020.
The report recommended a major overhaul, including tighter oversight, forensic audits of selected investments and limits on political involvement in the institution.
