She said this had been decided by the Cabinet and will be implemented for the haj season this year so that the quota of 30,200 people allocated by the Saudi Arabian government would truly benefit those who qualified.

“The quota for the people becomes less, resulting in a much longer waiting period when small numbers of the quota are milked and given to certain quarters. This results in the haj pilgrim being forced to perform the haj when he or she is old and feeble.

“A quota which has been given to certain quarters, even if it is only 50, is sometimes sold off. This takes away the right of those who are qualified,’’ she told reporters after attending a “Community Dialogue With Kuantan MP” here yesterday.

She said the giving of letters of support to facilitate applications to perform the haj would also be stopped in line with the decision of the Pakatan Harapan government.

“If there is an appeal (to perform the haj), we will only extend it for consideration by the quarters concerned based on the procedures. Only those qualified will be considered and there will no longer be any special treatment,” she said.

In another matter, Fuziah said the issue of Quran and Fardu Ain (Kafa) teachers being absorbed into permanent service was expected to be settled in the middle of next year after a study is completed in March.

If things proceed smoothly, there is a possibility that 5,000 of the 31,460 Kafa teachers will be the first group to benefit.

“Most of them have a degree or diploma in the Arabic Language or Islamic Studies. We may offer the S29 grade scheme under the diploma qualification for those absorbed, even if they have degrees.

“Those with Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) but with experience, and not willing to further their studies to the diploma level, may be offered the S19 grade,” she said.