Ex‑minister Jamil Khir claims trial over RM860m Tabung Haji funds channelled into Saudi real estate

Former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Religious Affairs Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom today claimed trial to three charges of dishonestly causing Lembaga Tabung Haji to dispose of RM860,308,770.51 worth of funds to a Saudi real estate company. — Picture by Yusof Isa

By R. Loheswar

First Published: Monday, 14 Sep 2026 9:18 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 — Former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Religious Affairs Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom today claimed trial to three charges of dishonestly causing Lembaga Tabung Haji to dispose of RM860,308,770.51 worth of funds to a Saudi real estate company.

Jamil Khir, 65, was charged with committing the offences while serving as minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Religious Affairs in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

The first charge alleges that Jamil Khir had, on April 3, 2015, at his office in the Prime Minister’s Department in Putrajaya, dishonestly caused Tabung Haji to dispose of RM42,942,074 to Al-Rawda Real Estate Development and Projects Management Co. Ltd.

The amount was equivalent to SAR44.17 million, according to the charge sheet.

For the second charge, Jamil Khir is alleged to have dishonestly caused Tabung Haji to dispose of RM288,172,134.64, equivalent to SAR250,041,622, to Al-Rawda Investment for Real Estate Development and Projects Management Co. Ltd. on December 14, 2016.

The third charge alleges that he dishonestly caused Tabung Haji to dispose of RM529,194,561.87, equivalent to SAR471,848,615, to the same company on August 17, 2017.

The three offences are alleged to have taken place at Jamil Khir’s office in Putrajaya while he was the minister responsible for religious affairs.

All three charges were framed under Section 403 of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of between six months and five years, whipping and a fine upon conviction.

Jamil Khir entered his not guilty plea after the charges were read out before Judge Rosli Ahmad at the Sessions Court here.

Jamil was represented by lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, who had asked for a lower bail after the prosecution asked for it to be set at RM1 million. 

The prosecution said that, due to the high amount involved it was appropriate.

Judge Rosli, however, decided to set bail at RM300,000 and for Jamil to hand over his passport and any relevant travel documents. 

Jamil Khir, who served as minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Religious Affairs from 2009 to 2018, was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on September 1.

He was subsequently remanded for five days, with the remand later extended by another two days, as part of an investigation linked to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the management and governance of Tabung Haji.

The investigation is understood to concern matters raised by the RCI, including decisions involving Tabung Haji during Jamil Khir’s tenure.

Jamil Khir had previously maintained that decisions made during his time as minister were based on recommendations by Tabung Haji’s board and followed the fund’s established procedures.