Malaysia to charge former minister over haj fund corruption
Por Joseph Sipalan — South China Morning Post – News feed
Advertisement Malaysia This Week in Asia Politics Malaysia to charge former minister over haj fund corruption
Ex-religious affairs minister Jamil Khir Baharom is the highest-ranking figure to be implicated in the Tabung Haji scandal
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Joseph Sipalan Published: 8:35pm, 10 Sep 2026 A former Malaysian minister overseeing religious affairs will be charged with corruption next week, the country’s anti-corruption agency has said, as authorities close in on once-powerful figures believed to have stolen from the nation’s haj pilgrim fund. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) confirmed on Thursday that Jamil Khir Baharom – who served as religious affairs minister under disgraced former prime minister Najib Razak – would face three charges on Monday for misappropriation of assets linked to the multibillion-dollar Tabung Haji fund.
The charges relate to alleged dubious dealings involving the leasing of hotels in Saudi Arabia, which manages access to Mecca where millions of Muslims from around the world gather annually for the haj pilgrimage.
“This proves our commitment in handling corruption, leakages and abuse of power,” MACC chief commissioner Abdul Halim Aman told reporters at a media briefing.
“We conduct our probes regardless of an individual’s background or affiliation.”
Jamil was arrested and remanded earlier this month after the MACC launched a crackdown following the release in July of a royal commission of inquiry report into alleged corruption and misappropriation at the fund. If found guilty, he faces up to five years in prison.
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