Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abd Rahim and Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Baharom visit Datuk Seri Najib Razak at his residence in Taman Duta, Kuala Lumpur May 18, 2018. — Picture by Miera Zulyana

PETALING JAYA, May 23 — Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim no longer considers himself chairman of Lembaga Tabung Haji (LTH).

The Baling MP said he has drafted his resignation letter and is only waiting to tender it to the next minister in-charge of Islamic affairs under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration.

“As far as I’m concerned, I have already personally resigned as chairman of Lembaga Tabung Haji, awaiting an official acknowledgement from the government via a ministry in-charge of Islamic affairs,” he told Malay Mail today.

He said it was the proper way for him to relinquish his position.

“As an appointed chairman of the fund, I can’t submit my resignation letter to the chief executive officer as he does not have the power to accept my resignation. I have to submit it to a higher authority and in this case, it’s a minister,” said Abdul Azeez.

The 51-year-old was first appointed to the LTH board of directors in 2011 when Barisan Nasional (BN) was the ruling coalition. In 2013, he was appointed its chairman.

The fund, which was established to facilitate pilgrimages for Malaysian Muslims, was previously under the purview of Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom as the minister in charge of Islamic affairs, under the Prime Minister’s Department.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has yet to name a minister to that portfolio.

In 2015, Lembaga Tabung Haji was embroiled in controversy over the fund’s decision to pay RM2,773 per square foot for a 1.5-acre piece of land in the Tun Razak Exchange in Kuala Lumpur.

This came after it was revealed that the strategic fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) had originally acquired the TRX land for only RM64 per square foot.

Yesterday, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) raided and seized over RM500,000 in cash of various currencies, jewellery and luxury watches in several houses and offices in four states occupied by Abdul Azeez.