PUTRAJAYA: The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate issues involving Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) has already started work and held its first meeting on Wednesday (Jan 26), says Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (pic).

       He said the first meeting was held a week after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong consented to the setting up of the RCI to investigate TH’s management and operational issues from 2014 to 2020.

       He, however, did not reveal details on where the meeting was held, adding that a further announcement on the matter would be made by Religious Affairs Minister Senator Idris Ahmad.

       “We had to be thorough when selecting members of the RCI to ensure that none of them have any connection or relations with not just Tabung Haji, but also related ministries, to avoid conflict of interest.

       “There were individuals we had called who declined the appointments due to this,” said the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department on Friday (Jan 28).

       The government had announced the setting up of the RCI in July last year.

       Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had also consented to the appointment of six RCI members, including former chief justice Tun Md Raus Sharif as its chairman.

       The other five are former chief secretary to the government Tan Sri Samsudin Osman, RHBV founder Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Hussain, former Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad chairman Tan Sri Dr Mohd Munir Abdul Majid, Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah (Unishams) vice-chancellor Prof Dr Asmadi Mohamed Naim and Malay Chambers of Commerce deputy president Norsyahrin Hamidon.