Will RM9,980 subsidised cost of haj be maintained, Salahuddin asks govt

The government should give a clear answer on the subsidies it will give for haj pilgrimages this year, said Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub.

This is after the cost of performing the haj went up by 12 percent per pilgrim.

"The government should state whether the (subsidised) payment of RM9,980 for each pilgrim from previous years will be maintained or otherwise," Salahuddin (above) said in a statement today.

Tabung Haji on Thursday announced 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.

Previously it was RM22,900 in 2019.

Malaysia did not send haj pilgrims in 2020 and 2021 as borders were closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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.

Meanwhile, Salahuddin also called on the government to state what is the quota for pilgrims allocated for Malaysia this year. - Mkini