KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — Lembaga Tabung Haji’s (TH) investment in Putrajaya Perdana ultimately dragged it into dealings involving troubled state investment vehicle 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), resulting in a RM145.3 million loss, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Zulkifli Hasan said the investment was among 14 problematic investments identified in the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report into TH.

He said TH had invested in Putrajaya Perdana and appointed its then chairman as chairman of the company, which was subsequently involved in transactions linked to 1MDB.

“This needs to be given attention: TH invested in Putrajaya Perdana, appointed the then TH chairman as chairman of Putrajaya Perdana, and the company was subsequently embroiled in 1MDB transactions.

“Ultimately, TH suffered losses of RM145.3 million,” he said during his ministerial briefing on the RCI report in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Zulkifli said the RCI had identified 14 problematic investments associated with losses amounting to billions of ringgit, including Putrajaya Perdana, Al-Rawda, PT TH Indo Plantations (THIP), Trurich and FGV.

He said the investments were approved by the minister after being endorsed and recommended by TH’s board of directors between 2010 and 2017.

Zulkifli also raised questions over another TH investment involving 1MDB, namely its purchase of land in the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) from the state investment vehicle while the controversy surrounding 1MDB was at its peak.

He said questions arose over the fact that TH’s chief executive officer at the time was also a member of the 1MDB board of directors.

“A major question arose when the TH CEO was also a member of the 1MDB board of directors. Were the investments made at the time in TH’s interests, or to resolve the problems of other parties?” he said.

The RCI report also highlighted concerns over TH’s investment decisions and the pressure to maintain high dividend payouts.

Zulkifli said the pressure to announce high dividend payments year after year had driven TH to make several high-risk investments, resulting in losses amounting to billions of ringgit.

The special Dewan Rakyat sitting today was convened to debate the findings and recommendations of the RCI into TH’s management and administration.