Tabung Haji findings: a case of harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi

"Harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi" – the essence of this Malay proverb roughly translated reads how one is consumed by the very party that one expects to protect it.In an article just prior to the last state election in Johor, I contended that "some politicians are fools and some others, perpetual liars".With due respect, I am obliged to speak also of the other cohort of politicians who operate at nothing less than genius level. Their self-sacrificing work, above and beyond the call of duty, has to be acknowledged.Our economy is full steam ahead, notwithstanding challenges with a reported GDP growth above 5%. Charting the nation's economy on the right path needs to be taken on board.And then there are state elections, to add flavour to the mundaneness of life.This is another front where political ingenuity is there to be seen, appreciated and applauded.

Suddenly there is name calling, distortion of speeches and "fake" news calculated to mislead and "maim" political opponents.Their unquestionable timing in initiating reforms and upgrades, though delayed on certain fronts, presumably due to political horse trading, leaves one in awe.It is up to one to speculate on the timing of the release of the much awaited royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on Tabung Haji (TH). All said and done, as a citizen, as with many, I am glad it is now in the public sphere.It should be noted that the report was submitted to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 2022 and it had a slow meandering journey to its release almost four years later after declassification. Really?Such questionable conduct directly attributable to politicians, as alluded to in the report, should have hit the roof much earlier.

This is the crux of reform; not hyperventilating at ceramahs to boost one's political standing.The excuse that it will affect foreign investor confidence is poppycock. Investors are shrewd and know what is in the melting pot even before they commit their millions.The release has opened a Pandora's box.The chairman and the panel of the RCI should be applauded for the breadth and depth of the report which leaves no stone unturned. In my view as an internationally certified internal auditor and fraud investigator, this is a commendable piece of work.It is a textbook example, which is good reading at business schools, as to why politicians should not stick their noses into investment fund entities.F…