The National Fatwa Council never discussed Lembaga Tabung Haji’s (TH) purchase of 1.56 acres of land from 1Malaysia Development Bhd, Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin says.

Asri ( left in photo ) said this in response to National Fatwa Council chairperson Abdul Shukor Husin, who told a press conference that the controversial transaction is legitimate and syariah compliant.

“Since reappointed Perlis mufti and National Fatwa Council committee member on Feb 1, I have never attended, nor has there been any fatwa council meeting on 1MDB-related investments.

“That is all I can say to those who have emailed me on this matter,” Asri wrote on his Facebook page.

On Saturday, Shukor told reporters that in Islam, it is suffice that both the buyer and seller are willing participants in the trade.

“In a sale, buyers do not determine the price and we have no right to dispute an offer price. In an Islamic trade, a seller sets a price and if the buyer agrees to it, and the item and payment changes hands, that is considered a trade,” he said.

The press conference was called by Tabung Haji to explain the purchase of the land from the cash-strapped state investment firm, which prompted public outcry.

Sale documents leaked in a blog

On Wednesday, a blog leaked documents claiming Tabung Haji purchased 1MDB's land in a bid to help the cash-strapped 1MDB, which has accumulated a staggering debt of RM42 billion.

This translates to a purchase of RM2,773 per square foot (psf) by Tabung Haji, while 1MDB reportedly bought the land from the government at only RM64psf.

It was later confirmed that Tabung Haji had paid RM188.5 million for 1.56 acres of the 70-acre Tun Razak Exchange land owned by 1MDB.

1MDB had purchased the entire 70 acres from the government for a mere RM194.1 million.

Asri last week urged that the Tabung Haji trio - group managing director and CEO Ismee Ismail, investment panel member Abdul Samad Alias and deputy group managing director and deputy CEO Johan Abdullah - be taken to court to restore public confidence.

All three are also office holders in 1MDB, but TH chairperson Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim said there is no conflict of interest in the purchase.

TH has said it will comply with Najib’s instructions to sell the land.

Despite telling the pilgrimage fund to let the land go, Najib lamented that it could have earned TH up to RM170 million in the future, and not just up to RM6 million now.