After Tabung Haji controversy, deputy minister warns of 'perception terrorists'

BANGI, Feb 13 ― Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki warned Malaysians today to be wary of so-called “terrorists of perception” who allegedly spread half-truths, citing the controversy surrounding pilgrim fund Lembaga Tabung Haji (LTH).

Asyraf, who is a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said accusations against LTH’s financial standing was a proof of how information was wrongly used out its context.

“Terrorists of perception ― they purposely spread information that are half-truths based on documents that may seem to be correct but are not understood in the actual context,” said Asyraf, who is in charge of Islamic affairs.

“And this is spread using social media, in the end it influenced the minds of the people that believe in slander so easily when compared against response that is of truthful nature.

“Take Tabung Haji for example, the letter from Bank Negara was understood out of its context, which has no connection with the financial standing of Tabung Haji,” he added.

He said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) does not oversee LTH, but said that the central bank had sent the letter as it wished to see the fund carry out good risk management.

Although LTH had responded to the letter and BNM subsequently said it was satisfied, but both responses did not turn viral, he said.

“In the end, the earlier information was spread and the public is more prone to believe this slander, although Tabung Haji had already given explanations about its reserves standing, its financial standing, but unfortunately the society today is influenced by slander as compared to answers,” he said.

He also advocated a return to Islamic principles in the Muslim holy book Quran, that allegedly included refraining from making quick judgments and to first study and investigate claims.

LTH’s finances came into public attention recently when a leaked warning letter from BNM suggested that the fund’s assets were insufficient to meet its liabilities.

CEO Tan Sri Ismee Ismail later denied that LTH’s reserves were in the negative, saying the bank’s calculations had not taken into account the fund’s investment portfolios such as its subsidiaries, plantation assets and properties.

Ismee further stated that the fund’s cash assets alone as at December 31 last year stood at RM10.7 billion, a point he reiterated earlier this month when declaring a 5 per cent dividend and 3 per cent bonus payout for those who had yet to go on pilgrimage to depositors for the 2015 financial year.