Hike in haj costs shouldn't be passed on to pilgrims - group

 

The rise in cost of the haj pilgrimage to above RM25,000 this year should not trickle down to pilgrims, cautioned the Haj and Umrah Agencies Association.

Its president Razali Mohd Sham said this is as Tabung Haji had saved on funds when borders were locked down for two years during the Covid-19 pandemic, on top of tax exemptions granted to the fund.

“There shouldn’t be (additional payments by pilgrims). Is Tabung Haji owned by the government? No. Is Tabung Haji a government-linked company (GLC)? No.

“Tabung Haji (belongs to) depositors,” he told Malaysiakini.

Tabung Haji is technically a government-owned institution.

The fund yesterday issued a statement that the cost of performing haj under the fund had increased to above RM25,000 due to new taxes and service charges imposed by the Saudi government.

This is a 12 percent increase compared to the RM22,900 fee in 2019.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Idris Ahmad reportedly said that the government would continue to subsidise haj pilgrimages, but the amount has not been determined.

Cost hike reasonable - economist

Universiti Tun Abdul Razak economist Barjoyai Bardai said the 12 percent cost increase was actually reasonable.

This was in comparison to escalating prices for goods and services due to factors such as the Covid-19 pandemic, global economic recession, the Russian-Ukraine war, and US sanctions against various countries, he added.

Nonetheless, Barjoyai said Tabung Haji must live up to its mandate and maximise bearing the cost of pilgrimages for its depositors.

He also proposed that Tabung Haji set up a wakaf (on-going charitable endowment) fund. 

The wakaf fund, he said, is for Tabung Haji depositors who have already performed the haj to make voluntary contributions in order to help fund future pilgrimages of others. - Mkini