Negative reserves? Not true, says Tabung Haji's Azeez
Tabung Haji chairperson Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim today denied claims that Lembaga Tabung Haji has negative reserves.
“It’s not true,” he said when met at the Parliament lobby today.
He, however, declined to elaborate, saying that the pilgrimage fund’s management will hold a press conference on the matter later today.
Tabung Haji chairperson Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim today denied claims that Lembaga Tabung Haji has negative reserves.
“It’s not true,” he said when met at the Parliament lobby today.
He, however, declined to elaborate, saying that the pilgrimage fund’s management will hold a press conference on the matter later today.
Bank Negara Malaysia deputy governor Sukhdave Singh, who was also at Parliament today, declined to comment on the matter.
"I am not making a public statement. If there is a statement to be made, we will make it. So, until there is such a statement, I don't have anything (to say)," he added.
Asked whether the letters were fake, Sukhdave said: "I have no further information."
This comes after Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki urged the public not to worry as everything in Tabung Haji is fine.
"Don't worry, everything is fine," he said curtly when met at Parliament lobby today.
He was responding to a letter purportedly issued by Bank Negara Malaysia governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz warning Tabung Haji and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom (
photo
) on the pilgrim fund's negative reserves.
According to the letter leaked online , the central bank cautioned the fund that its negative reserves will undermine ability to pay dividends, which could trigger mass withdrawals by depositors.
Asyraf, however, refused to acknowledge that the letters were genuine.
Earlier, Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena) urged Jamil to resign if the report is true as it showed that the pilgrim fund paid more dividend than its earning and later took money from the reserve.
He also alleged that higher dividend was paid out during the last general election to play on the emotions of the voters.
The pilgrimage fund yesterday told depositors not to buy into speculation that there will be a delay in dividend payments this year.
It explained that dividends are conventionally paid within the first quarter of the year, and it has until March to ensure all internal audits are done before the payments are made.
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