Malaysian Ex-Minister Charged in 1M Haj Fund Scandal

Malaysian Ex-Minister Charged in $211M Haj Fund Scandal

Ex-minister faces charges over $211M misappropriation from haj fund. Court hearing details revealed.

September 15, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — A former Malaysian minister has been charged with misusing over RM860 million (US$211 million) from the nation’s haj pilgrimage fund, according to a court filing.

Jamil Khir Baharom, 65, appeared in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Monday, September 14, and entered a not guilty plea to three counts related to payments made to a Saudi real estate firm between 2015 and 2017.

The charges, brought by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, allege that Tabung Haji funds were transferred improperly to Al Rawda Real Estate Development and Projects Management Co. Ltd. The amounts involved include RM42.9 million in April 2015, RM288.1 million in December 2016, and RM529.1 million in August 2017, all allegedly occurring at Jamil’s office in Putrajaya.

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Jamil, who served as religious affairs minister from 2009 to 2018 under former Prime Minister Najib Razak, is the second UMNO leader to face charges in the ongoing haj fund scandal. He was granted bail of RM300,000 and ordered to surrender his passport pending further legal proceedings.

This case comes amid broader scrutiny of Tabung Haji, a fund established to assist Malaysian Muslims with their pilgrimage expenses. A Royal Commission of Inquiry report released in July 2022 revealed losses exceeding RM1 billion due to governance failures and questionable investments during the period from 2014 to 2020.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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