KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 – The decision of the Saudi Arabian government to reduce the haj quota for Malaysia will have an effect on the waiting period for haj pilgrims which will be raised slightly in the next few years.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said, however, this would only be temporary and was expected to return to normal after the completion of the expansion programmes and improvements of the facilities at the Al-Haram Mosque in Mecca.
“The Malaysian government has received an official letter from the Saudi Arabian government on the decision to reduce the haj quota for the period 1434H by 20 per cent and this regulation covers all countries in the world,” he told the Dewan Negara sitting when replying to Senator Datuk Muhamad Yusof Husin.
Jamil Khir (photo) said it was hoped the Saudi Arabian government would consider increasing the haj quota for all countries including Malaysia after all the projects had been completed.
He said the quota reduction also affected prospective pilgrims who had submitted appeals (male next of kins and senior citizens) this season, and Tabung Haji (TH) would evaluate in detail to consider their appeals in case there were vacancies available.
For prospective pilgrims who had given feedback and confirmation to TH and had made the full haj payment of RM9,980, the offer to perform the haj would not be withdrawn.
– BERNAMA
