TH rebranding becoming another racial tensions flashpoint

Summary

• Marzuk alleges Tabung Haji is spending RM20 million on rebranding and hiring non-Muslim firms, sparking PAS attacks.

• Tabung Haji and minister Na’im say the project costs RM6 million, follows procedures, and involves multiracial professionals, but tensions escalate.

• Marzuk’s suspension from Parliament after clashing with Na’im sparks accusations of non-Muslim DAP speaker shutting down Muslims.

A rebranding exercise by Tabung Haji is fast becoming another flashpoint for racial tensions amid allegations that non-Muslim companies had been appointed by the pilgrimage fund.

PAS is using the issue to paint a picture that funds deposited by Muslims hoping to go on the haj are being misused and channelled inappropriately to non-Muslims, and that bumiputera companies were being sidelined.

Tabung Haji and the government’s seeming refusal to address the allegations are adding fuel to the fire.

The issue began on Aug 11, when Pengkalan Chepa MP Ahmad Marzuk Shaary claimed in Parliament that RM20 million in Tabung Haji depositors’ hard-earned money is being used for a rebranding exercise, and that three companies that were either fully owned or majority-owned by non-Muslims and non-bumiputera had been appointed.

Marzuk’s source of information is unclear, but it is believed to be from his connections when he was the deputy religious affairs minister.

He had questioned why such an expensive exercise was needed, why bumiputera-owned companies were not appointed, and whether there was an open tender process.

He also argued that funds could have been used to improve Tabung Haji’s pilgrimage services or even to sponsor up to 1,000 pilgrims from the lower-income group.

At the outset, Marzuk’s questions did not get much public attention until former PAS leader Nurul Islam Yusoff picked up on the issue on Aug 15.

This then prompted Tabung Haji to deny that the rebranding exercise cost RM20 million.

Instead, in a statement on Aug 16, it said the rebranding exercise will cost RM6 million - to be paid in three RM2 million tranches over three years.

However, it did not address the non-Muslim vendors’ allegations, prompting Nurul Islam and others to double down on the narrative that the fund was sidelining Muslims and bumiputera.

Marzuk clashes with minister

Things came to a head on Monday when Marzuk got into a heated exchange with de facto Religious Affairs Minister Na’im Mokhtar over the matter.

Na’im, in winding down his section of the 13th Malaysia Plan debate, revealed that Tabung Haji had engaged four companies, not three, for the rebranding exercise.

He neither confirmed nor denied that three of the companies were majority non-Muslim but said that the consortium consisted of professionals of various races.

He also said that the appointment of the companies also followed Tabung Haji’s procurement procedures.

As for why the fund - which has a virtual monopoly on the haj pilgrimage sector in Malaysia - needed a rebrand, Na’im said it is because the government-linked company had trouble connecting with youths.

He also said that when Marzuk was deputy religious affairs minister, Tabung Haji had awarded contracts to 23 non-bumiputera companies.

Marzuk retorted that he did not have the authority to sign off on such contracts.

He also accused the minister of failing to answer whether Tabung Haji awarded the rebranding contract to a non-Malay company without an open tender.

Suspension ramps up religious narrative

The PAS lawmaker’s continued hammering of this point resulted in Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Alice Lau - who was presiding over the lower house at the time - ejecting him from the hall after Marzuk repeatedly ignored her orders to stand down and allow Na’im to continue with the rest of his speech.

Marzuk was later given a two-day suspension.

This incident further inflamed racial and religious sentiments.

PAS’ Manjoi assemblyperson Hafez Sabri, in a Facebook post on Monday night, put a religious spin on Marzuk’s booting.

“PAS’ Pengkalan Chepa MP was evicted from the Dewan Rakyat and suspended for two days by the non-Muslim speaker from DAP,” he said.

He also appeared to question why Lau was the speaker presiding over the session, which he said was of importance to Muslims.

Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan chastised Hafez yesterday for playing up religious sentiments, and insisted that Lau had acted in accordance with procedure when Marzuk became unruly.

“What happened had nothing to do with Lau’s party or religion. But as usual, PAS leaders like Hafez want to play on racial and religious sentiments,” the DAP lawmaker said.

Hafez retorted that Syahredzan was the one playing the race card and resorting to “outdated tactics” to disparage PAS.

He then repeated Marzuk’s line of questioning, asking the government to confirm that the vendors appointed for the rebranding exercise were non-Muslim owned, and had won the project through direct negotiation.

Malaysiakini has contacted two of the companies named by Marzuk for a response. The third company did not have a website or any contact details.

One of the companies, Green Zebras Sdn Bhd, confirmed that it had been engaged by Tabung Haji.

The company’s co-founder, Yazid Jamian, said that it was tasked with carrying out research to address several issues and to help rejuvenate Tabung Haji’s relevance to its target audience.

“The appointment was carried out in full compliance with Tabung Haji’s procurement policies and procedures. Green Zebras was selected based on our capabilities, track record, and approach that aligns with the objectives of the project,” he told Malaysiakini.

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