Former Malaysian minister Jamil Khir Baharom, a prominent leader from the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court on September 14, 2026, to charges of misappropriating $860.3 million from Tabung Haji, the country's Muslim pilgrimage fund. This makes him the second UMNO leader to be charged following an investigation into the fund's management. Khir Baharom, who represents the Jerai constituency in Parliament, was formally charged after a royal inquiry highlighted significant financial irregularities within Tabung Haji.
This development comes shortly after another senior UMNO politician, Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, was charged on September 8, 2026, with graft related to his leadership of Tabung Haji. Abdul Azeez faces accusations of abusing his power to gain personal benefits, including the chairmanship of construction company Putrajaya Perdana with an annual salary of 690,000 ringgit and a BMW 7 Series car. He also allegedly influenced the fund's board to approve a $47.5 million investment (193.5 million ringgit) in Putrajaya Perdana, despite having a conflict of interest.
The charges against these high-profile UMNO figures underscore increasing tensions within Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s multi-coalition ruling alliance. The ongoing crackdown on corruption within state-run entities, particularly Tabung Haji, which manages the savings of millions of Malaysian Muslims for pilgrimage, is a significant political and financial event in the country.
