KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 — Muslim group Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) is calling on the authorities to investigate a report that pilgrimage fund Lembaga Tabung Haji plans to purchase plots of land from debt-laden state investment arm 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

The youth NGO said it viewed the matter seriously as the alleged deal could put the savings of Muslims planning to perform the hajj in jeopardy.

“We view this matter seriously as it can put at risk the savings of Muslims planning to perform the fifth pillar of Islam. We urge the police or the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission to investigate the veracity of the report,” ABIM president Amidi Abd Manan said in a statement.

He added that should the report be true, the deal could potentially become another massive scandal similar to the Port Klang Free Trade Zone controversy.

Quoting sources with direct knowledge on the matter, Reuters reported that 1MDB is set to sell two plots of land from the Tun Razak Exchange project to the pilgramage fund for about RM700 million.

The sale would be the first since 1MDB announced in February that it would dispose of assets to help cut its debt — a US$11.6 billion (RM41.658 billion) burden that has weighed on the ringgit and the country’s sovereign credit rating.

1MDB, whose advisory board is chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, has been dogged by years of controversy over its management of funds and its huge debt.

Lembaga Tabung Haji is expected to release a statement on the matter later this evening.