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Tabung Haji: An Exodus Amidst The Jihad Mutinies

The Jihad between the two Hamids is now several mutinies, in which the Hamid who should be on top -- the 'new' Hamid aka Brig.-Gen. (R) Dato' Abdul Hamid Zainal Abidin cannot understand he is, and finds creative ways to put the 'old' Hamid, Dato' Seri Abdul Hamid Othman, down to reaffirm his position. But however hard he tries, he is found wanting. He is so embarrassed at this that when it became public, Tabung Haji ordered its staff, in a memo, of what would happen to them if they talked to reporters. This memo indirectly confirms what I write in Sangkancil about the travails of Tabung Haji is spot on. The 'new' Hamid, by his attitude, alienates many in the organisation. Even senior officers have doubts about how effective he could be. The 'old' Hamid is a much more polished man and had no qualms of asking for help from his staff or praise his predecessors. That had the Tabung Haji staff eating out of his hand. He did not carry tales or complain about anyone to his staff, and when he found himself in a spot, all of Tabung Haji would help him resolve it.

The 'new' Hamid, on the other hand, wanted to pack Tabung Haji with his own men, usually retired military men of lower rank and those he taught as a Malay teacher in, especially, Victoria Institution. He alienates the old timers in Tabung Haji to insist on changes for the sake of change or to belittle his predecessor. He now presides over a plan to remove Tabung Haji's money-making subsidiaries in a scheme which would make some individual happy but not the organisation. In this re-organisation, staff would be retrenched. A voluntary seperation scheme (VSS) is offered to the staff. Many accept, either by intent or force. And, to mix my religious metaphors, the Exodus has begun -- to PAS. They are fed up with being trampled while the wounded elephant runs amok because he feels he is not accepted as the Raja Gajah.

Meanwhile, he tries to tell the world he is in control. He is now in Mecca to oversee the Malaysian preparations for the Haj. He tells Bernama Pakistan wanted Tabung Haji to organise her Haji programme on a more orderly basis. But it could not for two reasons: Parliament does not allow it; and Saudi Arabia would not allow it. If Parliament does not allow it, as the good minister should know, all he had to do was to ensure it is. But it is he who has to ask the Cabinet to have the Act amended. Has he? If not, why not? Similarly, Saudi Arabia's objections carry no weight. Is the minister telling us Saudi Arabia objects to a Muslim nation helping another to organise the Haji pilgrimage to Mecca? Pakistan is not about to ride on Malaysia's quotas. Does the minister seriously think that with the Organisation of Islamic Countries conference here next week, and with the Prime Minister, Dato' Seri Mahathir Mohamed, insisting Malaysia is an Islamic nation, he could not get the amendments done to carry out the Pakistani request?

So, is this an attempt to divert attention from the serious crisis in Tabung Haji to say all is well. So well, in fact, Pakistan would want its help. But is all well in Tabung Haji when people it cannot afford to let go opt for early retirement; its money-making subsidiaries hived off to third parties; and remove all traces of previous incumbents who brought the organisation to what it is today? The national crisis of the Malay torn between UMNO and PAS in his search for his brand of Islam flounders in Tabung Haji insofar as UMNO is concerned. PAS gets a steady stream of applications from present and former Tabung Haji staff to join it, so fed up they are of UMNO and how it helps run down Tabung Haji to the ground. The good perceptions one had of Tabung Haji, they argue, is no more. Today it is used as a stick to beat those the minister disagrees with. That it has come down to this level is what bothers many in Tabung Haji. The effects of that, unless speedily reversed, could be a hindrance to whatever the government has in mind. Meanwhile, the numerous other mutinies to ensure which Hamid is on top continues unabled. And bring more problems on the good prime minister's head.

M.G.G. Pillai
pillai@mgg.pc.my