KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 – Malaysia has requested an additional Haj quota from the Saudi Arabian government for next year, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.
He confirmed that an official letter had been sent to Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Haj and Umrah, Dr Tawfiq Fawzan Al-Rabiah. Currently, Malaysia’s Haj quota stands at 31,600.
“I have officially requested for an additional quota from Minister Dr Tawfiq Fawzan Al-Rabiah,” he said after attending the Tabung Haji (TH) 1446H Haj Season Completion and Corporate Partner Appreciation Ceremony here.
The event acknowledged the contributions of government agencies, private sectors, and corporate partners in supporting the success of the 1446H Haj season operations.
Bernama Radio journalist Nurliyana Farhah Ruslan was also recognised.
A total of 32 corporate partners were acknowledged for their contributions of RM7.1 million to support the smooth running of this year’s Haj operations.
Also present at the ceremony were the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia chief consul, Ali Abu Hikmah, representing Saudi Arabian ambassador to Malaysia, Mesaad Ibrahim Al Sulaim, and TH chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Hussain.
Mohd Na’im also shared that for the next Haj season, Tabung Haji will focus on digitalising the passport process to ensure smoother operations.
“We are confident that by focusing on digitalisation, passport processing times can be shortened. We will collaborate with the Saudi government and the Ministry of Haj and Umrah,” he said.
He added that Tabung Haji had appointed a new Haj service provider in Saudi Arabia to improve services and comfort for pilgrims.
