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Malaysia's anti-graft agency raids Muslim pilgrim fund chief's home and office, seizes cash and documents

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) investigators have raided the office and residence of Muslim pilgrim fund Lembaga Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim.

Malaysia'a anti-graft agency have so far seized more than S$168,689 in cash, some documents and jewellery from the homes and office of Muslim pilgrim fund Lembaga Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim.

Malaysia'a anti-graft agency have so far seized more than S$168,689 in cash, some documents and jewellery from the homes and office of Muslim pilgrim fund Lembaga Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim.

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KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) investigators have raided the office and residence of Muslim pilgrim fund Lembaga Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim.

A source from MACC told Malay Mail that the raid started on Tuesday (May 22) at 9am at several locations including Mr Abdul Azeez's homes in Selangor, Kedah as well as Lembaga Tabung Haji headquarters located in Kuala Lumpur, and continues on Wednesday.

The source said so far investigators have seized more than RM500,000 (S$168,689) in cash, some documents and jewellery.

“The raids are still ongoing in several other locations in Kedah and Selangor.

“We also seized stacks of foreign currency which we are in the midst of counting now,” the source said.

MACC chief Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull in a tell-all press conference on Tuesday revealed that he received threats from a former member of Parliament from the north.

Tabung Haji is a savings fund for Muslims planning pilgrimages to Mecca. Mr Abdul Azeez - who is the incumbent Member of Parliament for Baling parliamentary ward in Kedah - was appointed as Tabung Haji chairman on July 2013.

Mr Abdul Azeez confirmed the raids on Wednesday, saying that MACC took about seven pieces of his wife's jewellery as well as RM500,000 which he said was not his own but belongs to welfare organisation Kelab Putera 1Malaysia.

Mr Abdul Azeez who is the president of the organisation also said other items seized from his were some personal jewellery belonging to his wife and 20 luxury replica timepieces.

"The jewellery has been with us for more than 30 years since our marriage and I guess it’s worth around RM50,000. My wife is not a jewellery person lah,” The Star Online quoted him as saying.

“For the timepieces, these are all mainly Chinese replica copies of the original and do not carry any certification.”

During his time as chairman, Mr Azeez had defended Tabung Haji’s decision in buying a parcel of land from troubled state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad's (1MDB) Tun Razak Exchange project for RM188.5 million and planned to build a residential tower at the site.

Opposition politicians had been quick to note that Tabung Haji paid RM2,773 per square foot for the 1.5 acre plot, a hefty premium compared with the RM64psf price paid by 1MDB when it acquired the land from the federal government.

Mr Abdul Azeez at that time however said that the fund already had three potential buyers for the land and that the sale would net at least RM5 million profit. AGENCIES

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