In a report by Bernama, Tabung Haji group managing director and chief executive officer Johan Abdullah said the pilgrimage fund board and government regularly had meetings with the Saudi Arabian government to continually improve the haj management system.
He thanked King Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud and the Saudi Arabian government for their efforts and assistance in helping to make Malaysia’s haj management better.
Johan added that King Salman, who arrived here today for a four-day official visit, had praised Malaysia for having one of the best haj management in the world.
The visit, at the invitation of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V, is King Salman’s first since he ascended to the throne on Jan 23, 2015.
Haj matters, quota issues and strengthening cooperation in related areas would be at the top of the agenda for the visit, Foreign Minister Anifah Aman told reporters two days ago.
Johan said Tabung Haji’s priority was to get approval for a haj quota increase for Malaysia.
“The registration to perform the haj pilgrimage in Malaysia has reached 2.4 million people and the waiting time is up to 100 years,” he told Bernama, adding that the request for additional quota was also in tandem with the increase in Malaysia’s population.
Tabung Haji, in a statement released earlier this year, said that the haj quota for Malaysian pilgrims had been restored to 27,900 for 2017, compared with 22,230 previously.
The pilgrimage fund board also hopes to build a centralised accommodation complex in Mecca and Madinah.
Johan said an annual meeting was held recently with the Saudi Arabian haj minister and it was attended by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom, Tabung Haji chairman Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim and himself.
“After this, we will arrange several discussions with the Saudi Arabian haj ministry, the Adilla Muassasah in Madinah and the Southeast Asia Muassasah in Mecca to ensure a smooth haj operation,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
Tabung Haji was established in 1963 by the government for the welfare of Malaysian haj pilgrims and to help improve the economy of Muslims in the country.