‘I’m only speaking the truth’ Madinah in response to TH chairman Rashid Hussin

SHAH ALAM – “I do not want to challenge anyone on this matter. I am only giving the true perspective,” said Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad in response to TH chairman Tan Sri Rashid Hussin’s claim that the former Auditor-General was not telling the truth.

Madinah clarified that she had not lied during the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) and said she respected the investigation conducted in 2022, but did not want to prolong the controversy.

However, she believed Rashid’s comments were made in his capacity as an RCI member, as he had frequently referred to being “constantly advised” and needing to “be careful about what to explain to the public”.

“He was speaking as an RCI member. So, I cannot refute or challenge what he said. But in terms of the facts and perspective, there is a difference between how he sees it and how I see it.

“He said he subpoenaed me, that is correct. That is why I attended. Rashid said I was not allowed to enter the proceedings because I came with the Deputy Director of the Financial Audit Division, Dr Mona Othman,” she told Sinar Harian on Thursday.

Madinah, however, said Mona’s presence was to prepare for any need to refer to her during questioning on technical facts.

“She was not going to answer on my behalf. I never said I wanted to bring Mona into the room with me. She was only there as a source of information.

“If there were technical auditing facts that needed to be clarified, we could refer to her, as she was sitting outside the room. Mona was part of the audit team and headed one of the teams of auditors for TH,” she explained.

Following this, Madinah urged the relevant parties not to twist the facts by claiming that she had requested to bring Mona into the proceedings, stressing that Mona was merely there as a source of information.

Meanwhile, Madinah also questioned how the affidavit she submitted could be considered sufficient to replace the opportunity to give oral testimony before the RCI members.

She understood that the affidavit had been received on April 1, but said the document should not have replaced oral proceedings.

“I did submit an affidavit, but it cannot replace oral submissions. They needed to hear what I had to say.

“Just as the RCI members heard oral explanations from the other parties who were called, the ‘right to be heard’ must also be given to me, as it was given to the others,” she said.

Madinah was appointed Auditor-General following an announcement by then Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, serving from Feb 23, 2017 to Feb 22, 2019.

Her appointment was made under Clause (1) of Article 105 of the Federal Constitution and approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advice of the Prime Minister.

The appointment was also made after consultation with the Conference of Rulers, which approved the appointment for a specified period.

Prior to that, she served as the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

Madinah said that throughout her career as a civil servant, she had only carried out her duties in the interests of the country, with her final position being Auditor-General.

“Allah is Most Generous. The truth will eventually come out,” she said.