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Iman Muttaqin Yusof

A former Malaysian religious affairs minister pleaded not guilty on Monday to three charges involving more than 860 million ringgit (US$211 million) in transactions linked to the country’s state-run haj savings fund and a Saudi property group.
Jamil Khir Baharom, 65, served as minister in the Prime Minister’s Department overseeing religious affairs from 2009 until 2018, when the government of former prime minister Najib Razak lost power.
His prosecution is the latest legal action to follow a royal commission inquiry into Lembaga Tabung Haji’s management and operations between 2014 and 2020. The report, which was declassified in July, identified 14 troubled investments.
Malaysia’s Finance Minister Amir Hamzah Azizan told parliament last month that the investments had collectively led to nearly 13 billion ringgit in losses, with seven totally emptied out.
According to the charge sheet, Jamil is accused of causing Tabung Haji to transfer 42.94 million ringgit to real estate company Al-Rawda in April 2015, followed by 288.17 million ringgit in December 2016, and 529.19 million ringgit in August 2017.

Jamil claimed trial before Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge Rosli Ahmad. The court set bail at 300,000 ringgit and ordered him to surrender his passport after prosecutors sought bail of 1 million ringgit.
Each charge was brought under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which covers dishonest misappropriation of property and carries a mandatory sentence of six months’ jail and whipping upon conviction. Offenders also could be fined.
Jamil was detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on September 1 and initially remanded for five days before the detention was extended by another two days as investigators pursued matters raised by the inquiry.
His lawyer, Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, said the defence would challenge the charges after studying documents to be handed over by prosecutors.
“Everyone will see that he was charged under Section 403 simply for carrying out his duties as a minister,” Hisyam told reporters at the court. “We will defend him as best we can. God willing, we will prove that he is not guilty.”

Tabung Haji, founded in 1963, is a government-owned Islamic financial institution that allows Malaysian Muslims to save in a sharia-compliant system for the haj pilgrimage to Mecca – one of Islam’s five pillars. It also manages investments and pilgrimage operations.
Depositor savings stood at 93.4 billion ringgit in 2025, according to the Finance Ministry.
The Al-Rawda investment recorded the largest loss among the 14 troubled ventures identified by the inquiry. Tabung Haji paid about 1.55 billion ringgit upfront between 2015 and 2017 for long-term leases on four hotels in Mecca and Medina, intended to house pilgrims.
The fund proceeded without a bank guarantee and before due diligence was completed, relying instead on promissory notes backed by the company owner’s personal guarantee. Al-Rawda stopped making rental payments in 2019.
Amir told parliament last month that the investment had generated 1.86 billion ringgit in losses by 2024. “This cannot be dismissed as bad luck in investments; this is clearly a multi-step failure,” he said.
Jamil joins several people charged after the report’s release. Former Tabung Haji chairman and Umno politician Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim pleaded not guilty last week to abusing his position over a 193.5 million ringgit investment in construction firm Putrajaya Perdana.
Two former officials at Tabung Haji-linked companies have also been charged with criminal breach of trust totalling about 72,000 ringgit, while Alam Maritim Resources chief Azmi Ahmad faces two cheating charges involving vessel charter rates.


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Former Malaysian religious minister Jamil Khir Baharom attends an Umno event in June. Photo: Facebook / dsjamilkhir

The Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex. Jamil Khir Baharom has claimed trial before Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge Rosli Ahmad. Photo: Shutterstock

Malaysia’s Lembaga Tabung Haji headquarters (centre) in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Wikipedia Commons / 龍崎 Jeffrey

Jamil Khir Baharom speaks at an Umno event in April 2025. Photo: Facebook / dsjamilkhir

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Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim is a veteran Umno Supreme Council member. Photo: Umno

Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob arrives at the Kuala Lumpur court complex for a hearing on August 27. Photo: Reuters

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Malaysia’s Lembaga Tabung Haji headquarters (left) in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Wikipedia Commons / 龍崎 Jeffrey

Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam, in Mecca on June 5, 2025. Photo: EPA-EFE

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Jamil Khir Baharom’s prosecution is the latest legal action to follow a release of a royal commission inquiry into Lembaga Tabung Haji


Jamil Khir Baharom’s prosecution is the latest legal action to follow a release of a royal commission inquiry into Lembaga Tabung Haji.


Malaysia haj fund scandal: ex-religious minister denies role in US$211 million transfer

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Jamil Khir Baharom’s prosecution is the latest legal action to follow a release of a royal commission inquiry into Lembaga Tabung Haji

Jamil Khir Baharom’s prosecution is the latest legal action to follow a release of a royal commission inquiry into Lembaga Tabung Haji