MACC Intensifies Probe Into Tabung Haji RCI and RM370 Million Plantation Deal

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained the former chief executive officer and former chief financial officer of Tabung Haji, centering a probe on a RM370 million plantation share deal.

The move follows the findings of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the Islamic pilgrimage fund manager, which oversees savings for Muslims traveling to Mecca. According to reports from The Star and Malay Mail, the MACC is now translating those judicial findings into criminal investigations.

Six Hours of Questioning

The interrogation focused specifically on the RCI’s findings regarding the fund’s financial irregularities.

The scale of the crackdown is expanding. Malaysiakini reports that police have opened five investigation papers, while three additional individuals have been remanded to assist the MACC in its efforts.

The RM370 Million Transaction

At the heart of the investigation is the RM370 million plantation share transaction. This specific deal was a focal point of the Tabung Haji RCI, a judicial inquiry launched to examine allegations of corporate negligence and financial losses.

By detaining the former CEO and CFO, the MACC is scrutinizing the decision-making process that led to these investments and the subsequent disappearance of funds.

Bribes and Political Interference

The investigation is not limited to the plantation deal. The New Straits Times reports that a company director was remanded over an alleged RM300,000 bribe linked to Tabung Haji projects.

As a sovereign investment fund and specialized financial institution, Tabung Haji handles public savings for religious purposes. The RCI was tasked with a critical mandate: determining if the fund’s assets were compromised by political interference.

Tracing the Flow of Funds

MACC investigators are currently analyzing RCI evidence to determine if the RM370 million deal constitutes corruption or a criminal breach of trust. The process involves calling in witnesses and auditing financial documents to trace the exact flow of the plantation share funds.

Legal proceedings and remands are continuing in Putrajaya, the administrative capital and home to the MACC headquarters.