KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 — Malaysia has requested an additional Hajj 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 its Hajj and Umrah Minister Tawfiq Fawzan Al-Rabiah. Currently, Malaysia's Hajj quota stands at 31,600.
"I have officially requested an additional quota from Minister Dr Tawfiq Fawzan Al-Rabiah," he said after attending the Tabung Haji (TH) 1446H Hajj Season Completion and Corporate Partner Appreciation Ceremony today.
The event acknowledged the contributions of government agencies, the private sector, and corporate partners in supporting the success of the 1446H Hajj season operations.
Bernama Radio journalist Nurliyana Farhah Ruslan was also recognised.
32 corporate partners were acknowledged for their contributions of RM7.1 million to support the smooth running of this year’s Hajj operations.
Also present at the ceremony were the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia chief consul's Ali Abu Hikmah, representing the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Malaysia Mesaad Ibrahim Al Sulaim, and TH chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Hussain.
Na'im added that for the next Hajj season, TH 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 Hajj and Umrah Ministry," he said.
The minister noted that TH has appointed a new Hajj service provider in Saudi Arabia to improve services and pilgrims' comfort.
