COMMENT With the Lembaga Tabung Haji and 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal that has surfaced all of a sudden, I am wondering how many more scandals are there that we are not aware of.

Instead of bringing the people responsible for the transaction to the prosecution box, the authorities seem to be more interested in investigating who is the 'whistleblower'.

While we understand how serious the offence is to leak confidential documents, I wonder what else would have transpired if this information was not leaked? The whistleblower, in my opinion is a national hero because he exposed the perpetrators once again.

Several names of individuals have surfaced that hold prominent position in both Tabung Haji and 1MDB. When outrageous sales and purchases occur, involving companies whose board of directors are the same people, it is beyond reasonable doubt that there is a conflict of interest.

Let us look at some of the board members of Tabung Haji and see what positions they hold in other companies/ organisations. ( See Table 1.0, below )

There are many more that have not been mentioned, as this article would be pages long otherwise. Everyone in the Tabung Haji group are chairpersons or directors in other government-linked companies or public-listed companies.

Is there a lack of credible people in Malaysia that the same individuals are given everything? Is it humanely possible to play effective role in all the companies?

While I do not deny that some of them have credible qualifications, possess vast experience and have received international recognitions, it is still no way possible for any one person to perform exceptional responsibilities in so many different companies simultaneously. There can only be one simple explanation for this: Corruption, Cronyism and Favouritism.

I find it ironic that so many wrongdoings are emerging of late. Everything is being linked to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and every issue is a reason to call for his head.

I am trying to look outside the box and wonder if there is a mastermind behind all the problems. Is there a kingmaker instructing his pawns to move in a specific direction to checkmate the country's prime minister?

A ‘bailout’ first for Tabung Haji?

In 1998, under the chairmanship of the late Ahmad Razali Mohamed Ali (brother-in-law of the then-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad), Tabung Haji overpaid hundreds of millions ringgit for the purchase of two buildings (TH Perdana and TH Selborn).

Tabung Haji paid RM168.46 million more for these two properties than the value of their worth. TH Perdana was bought from Maju Holdings Sdn Bhd, a company the Wall Street Journal described as “unprofitable”. The over-paying by Tabung Haji was clearly mentioned in the Auditor-General’s 2002 Report.

Earlier, in October 1996, Tabung Haji invested RM67 million for a project that almost immediately ran into trouble. The project is now abandoned.

All this was not blown out in the media then, like it is being today, because Mahathir controlled the media and press from publishing anything that could affect his position.

Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim

Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim ( photo ), who is an Indian Muslim, is the MP for Baling, Kedah. His rise to prominence occurred in the late 80s and 90s. Not very long ago when Bukit Lada assemblyperson Ahmad Lebai Sudin openly challenged Mukhriz Mahathir to resign from his MB’s post if he does not support the leadership of Najib, it was Azeez, along with a few others, who jumped into the fray and condemned Ahmad Lebai for his action.

Being from Kedah, he is said to be a close ally of Mahathir’s family and keeps their relationship low.

Mohd Irwan Serigar

Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah is also an Indian Muslim who sits on the board of directors for so many companies. During his tenure in the Economic Planning Unit, he served in various capacities in the areas of urban development, energy and privatisation.

He sits on the board of Petronas and Felda as  well (We all know what Petronas and Felda are to Mahathir). Irwan Serigar grew in the public sector under his mentor, Mahathir. The word going around is that even Irwan “gained a lot” during Mahathir’s time.

Syed Anwar Jamalullail

Syed Anwar Jamalullail has been chairperson the Investment Panel of Lembaga Tabung Haji since 2005. This name, if you remember, appeared in a civil suit in 2005 between Abdul Rahman Maidin (ex-MRCB chief) and Khalid Ahmad (ex-Realmild director). He was involved in a land deal with Rahman, where Mahathir was also allegedly involved.

The Realmild fiasco, where Syed Anwar was also part of, involved Mahathir and his allies like Kadir Jasin, Ahmad Nazri Abdullah, Mohd Noor Mutalib and Khalid. The Realmild scandal made all those involved from Mahathir’s camp multi-millionaires.

Zainol Mahmood

Zainol Mahmood was appointed chairperson and director of Lembaga Tabung Haji by Mahathir in the year 2000. Prior to that, in 1992, Zainal was appointed as executive chairperson of Pos Malaysia by Mahathir as well.

He also holds the position of chairperson and director of Urusharta Cemerlang Sdn Bhd. Zainol is a known crony of Mahathir and has been involved in various money scandals in both Post Malaysia and Urusharta, just like most of Mahathir’s other conglomerates.

  

Are all fingers pointing to Mahathir?

Magnifying the individuals involved, most of them have a link with Mahathir. I am wondering if Mahathir is behind the current Tabung Haji scandal as well.

Knowing the debt-ridden state of 1MDB, the idea of selling a land to Tabung Haji was floated in. There is no better and quicker way to make good money through a business dealing, especially when interest payment is up on the head.

The same people who are sitting in both 1MDB and Tabung Haji expedited the entire process. The deal occurred with lightning speed and lightning is always accompanied by thunder. The deal went through, documents were leaked and the rest is history…

What next Mahathir? Plotting the next move of 1MDB borrowing money from EPF? Or has that also already been done and waiting to explode?

TAJUDDIN ROSLI a political analyst and freelance writer.

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