MACC Secures Remand Extension for Former Minister in Tabung Haji Probe

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission secured a two-day remand extension on September 6, 2026, for a former minister in his 60s. Magistrate Muhammad Bukhori Md Ruslan Zakariah issued the order at the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court, keeping the official detained over investigations stemming from the Lembaga Tabung Haji Royal Commission of Inquiry report.

Extended Detentions and the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court Remands

The legal pressure intensified when the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission secured a two-day remand extension for the former minister, who was previously remanded for five days until Sunday. The remand order, which begins on Sept 7 and ends on Sept 8, followed an application by MACC. The man, who is in his 60s, arrived at 10.25 am for remand proceedings wearing an orange MACC remand shirt after being arrested at about 4.30 pm while he was at the MACC headquarters to have his statement recorded in connection with investigations into TH investments. According to MACC on its TikTok account when announcing the arrest, the former minister’s arrest was related to a hotel lease issue involving TH in Saudi Arabia.

This follows a pattern of extended custody orders across the inquiry. A former chief executive officer of Lembaga Tabung Haji was remanded for another four days until August 31 as the MACC widened its investigation into matters raised in the RCI report. Magistrate Ezrene Zakariah granted MACC’s application to extend the remand of the former CEO, who had previously been held for seven days. The man, in his 60s, arrived at the Putrajaya Magistrates’ Court at about 9.30am in orange lock-up attire and handcuffs, accompanied by MACC officers, and is suspected of involvement in the alleged misappropriation of TH investment funds and shares estimated to be worth about RM190 million. MACC has also sought remand orders against two other former senior officials—a former TH chairman who is also a politician and a former Treasury secretary-general—to assist the investigation. The two men, both in their 60s, were detained at about 4pm after appearing at MACC headquarters.

MACC began investigating the RCI findings on July 31, shortly after the report was made public, and 11 people have been arrested in connection with the probe. Those arrested include a former TH chairman, 60; former TH managing director, 61; former senior general manager of TH’s haj division, 65; former senior general manager of TH’s finance and services corporate division, 58; another former senior general manager of the same division, 59; and a former TH legal adviser, 60. Also arrested were a former minister, 65; a director of Putrajaya Perdana Bhd, 59; a former director of Putrajaya Perdana Bhd, 69; a former director of Putra Perdana Construction Sdn Bhd, 61; and a chief operating officer of Alam Maritim Sdn Bhd, 67. The ex-Tabung Haji COO was hospitalised, and a related court case was postponed.

Investigating Hotel Leases and Multi-Million Ringgit Investments

The inquiry findings document governance failures and problematic investments spanning from 2014 to 2020. MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman confirmed the case was being investigated under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009. Abd Halim Aman announced at a press conference at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya that several individuals detained in connection with the investigation will be charged in court over the next two days at the Kuala Lumpur and Shah Alam sessions courts. He stated that the charges involved the alleged abuse of power and misappropriation linked to TH’s investments in TH Marine, TH Alam, and TH Alam Management, involving a total of RM334.2 million, as Astro Awani reported. Another charge involves alleged corruption related to TH’s 30% stake in construction company Putrajaya Perdana Bhd. In a related development, Halim said another investigation involving TH’s investment in Al-Rawda Real Estate Development and Project Management Company Ltd, including hotel leases in Makkah and Madinah worth about RM2.68 billion, was expected to result in charges next week, confirming that the charges involve a VIP.

MACC Secures Remand Extension for Former Minister in Tabung Haji Probe

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Finance minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan previously said the RCI into TH’s financial management from 2014 to 2020 found that seven of the fund’s 14 investments during the period had resulted in losses. Speaking during a special sitting on the RCI report in the Dewan Rakyat on Aug 11, Amir said the biggest loss stemmed from TH’s investment in Al-Rawda, a Saudi Arabian property development and project management company. The investment involved lease agreements signed between 2015 and 2017, under which TH paid 1.4 billion Saudi riyals, or about RM1.5 billion, to an intermediary to lease four hotels in Makkah and Madinah for Malaysian pilgrims. He said Al-Rawda was supposed to operate the hotels and pay TH 2.49 billion Saudi riyals in rental, but failed to make the payments. The investment was also secured only through personal promissory notes. Al-Rawda defaulted on its rental payments from the first quarter of 2019, eventually forcing TH to recognise a full impairment loss of RM1 billion in 2024.

Upcoming Court Proceedings and Institutional Reform Recommendations

The 211-page RCI report, released by the government on July 29 after being kept undisclosed for four years, put forward 25 key recommendations aimed at strengthening transparency, professionalism, and governance within TH. Among the recommendations was a proposal to bar active politicians from serving on TH’s board of directors to prevent political interference in the management of the institution. His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has also ordered the authorities to pursue investigations arising from the RCI report thoroughly and without leaving any stone unturned.

Once the cases are registered, we will know the details. At this point, I cannot say more, Abd Halim Aman said at the press conference.

The former CEO, the former minister, and the other individuals under investigation have not been convicted of any offence. The MACC investigation is ongoing, and any alleged wrongdoing must be established through due process of law.