Anwar Says Tabung Haji Back On Strong Footing

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) had been successfully restored after problems arising from past negligence and mismanagement were detected early.

He said Tabung Haji had long served as a key Islamic financial institution responsible for managing the haj pilgrimage for Malaysians.

"Alhamdulillah, the problems were detected early and we managed to restore the institution. I am confident Tabung Haji will continue to excel," he said in his speech at the opening of Maybank's new headquarters at Menara Merdeka Maybank here on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the Cabinet agreed to make public the full report by the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into Tabung Haji.

The RCI report, released on Wednesday, examined the management and operations of TH between 2014 and 2020.

Anwar said the history of financial institutions, both globally and in Malaysia, had shown that many faced challenges involving integrity, good governance, and efficient and trustworthy management.

"Therefore, the challenge for the Maybank group is not only to deliver strong financial performance, but also to uphold its integrity. The bank's reputation rests not solely on its financial success, but also on its professional standards and integrity," he said.

Anwar, who is also finance minister, urged Malaysians to work hard to preserve peace and stability while focusing on building a humane economy as the country approaches the 70th anniversary of its independence.

"Let us work diligently to ensure the country remains peaceful and stable, while strengthening and focusing on a humane economy founded on strong economic fundamentals.

"When we speak of economic fundamentals, financial institutions remain a key pillar. Therefore, the collective efforts of the people, banks and financial institutions are essential to managing the economy in a way that improves the well-being of the rakyat," he added.

-- BERNAMA