THE Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) was established under the eighth premier (PM8) Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in July 2021. PAS was then part of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.
Now the RCI has finally come out with the findings of what went wrong with the governance of TH.
It is up to the respective investigative agencies such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC), the police and others to zero in to identify the individuals responsible for the loss.
The very fact that TH is financially sound now, is no excuse to halt the investigations.
What is not acceptable is the fact that the sanctimonious PAS which was part of the government in establishing the RCI on TH is questioning the findings.
‘UMNO-PAS stretching each other’s back’
Not only did the key PN opposition party refuse to debate the RCI but walked out of the Dewan Rakyat demanding the presence of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Beyond this, the latest is that the opposition wants a new RCI on TH. Since UMNO and PN are in bed together, there will be no end to the dispute regardless the RCI.
Remember, the investigation on TH was not an ordinary one but a royal commission. Therefore, PN or PAS by questioning the RCI has cast aspersion on its official standing.
Meanwhile PN is busy getting some dubious experts to cast aspersions on the RCI. The bottom line is simple and straightforward: PAS and its political friends want to protect UMNO because of its heavy involvement in the mismanagement of the TH.
PAS by supporting its friends in UMNO has cast aspersions on its moral and ethical standing in the country. Its use of religion and race seems primarily geared for the derivation of political benefits.
In the days of PAS’ opposition to UMNO and vice-versa, the Islamist party was ever ready to expose the misdeeds of UMNO.
Sorry, not anymore, as there is close symbiosis between the two Malay political parties in current times. Now the situation is about UMNO’s scratching the back of PAS and the latter reciprocating.
It is simple and plain that PAS by questioning the RCI has thrown religious righteousness, morality and ethics out of the window. – Aug 27, 2026
Former DAP stalwart and Penang deputy chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
