MELAKA, Aug 15 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has stressed that acts of “sakau” (siphoning of funds) did occur in Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH), following the loss of billions of ringgit as highlighted in the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on the institution.

The Finance Minister said the term “sakau” should not be avoided or questioned if the facts showed that money had been lost from an institution entrusted with managing the savings of Muslims.

“Some people do not like the term ‘sakau’. I want to repeat here in Melaka that there was indeed ‘sakau’ in Tabung Haji. RM12 billion was lost, isn’t that ‘sakau’? There was indeed ‘sakau’,” he said when delivering his Presidential Policy Speech at the 2026 Keadilan National Congress here today.

Anwar said action must be taken against those responsible regardless of their position or political background, as the consequences of the actions of a few individuals ultimately had to be borne by the people as a whole.

“Only some were involved in the ‘sakau’, but the ones who had to pay and bear the burden were all Malaysians, regardless of race or religion,” he said.

The Prime Minister said firmness in taking action should not be construed as political vengeance, adding that he himself would face criticism whether he acted or refrained from acting.

He said some individuals who were supposedly intelligent and highly educated appeared to be firm in fighting corruption and abuse of power, but this was merely hypocrisy because any action that did not favour those they supported would be labelled as revenge.

“Although they may appear intelligent, it is actually full of hypocrisy because when we do not take action, you say we are slow, but when we take action, you call it revenge,” Anwar said.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim. King of Malaysia, had also decreed that efforts to uncover weaknesses in the management of institutions involving the people’s interests should not stop with TH.

He said that after the TH issue was resolved, attention would be turned to the Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Felda), in line with the government’s responsibility to ensure that people’s institutions were managed transparently and responsibly.

Anwar stressed that a more stringent enforcement process would begin now to ensure that those who committed wrongdoing were held accountable, regardless of their position, party or influence. — Bernama