KUALA LUMPUR: Muslims in the country, whose earnings fall under the T20 income group, no longer receive subsidies from Tabung Haji to perform haj.
The matter was confirmed by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar.
"The policy (that Muslims no longer receive subsidies to perform haj) has been implemented.
"This means people whose earnings fall under the T20 income bracket are no longer eligible for any subsidies.
"This group of people are required to pay the full price to perform the haj," he told reporters after attending the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council's Santun Kasih programme at Seri Kota People's Housing Projects (PPR) in Bandar Tun Razak near here today.
He however did not elaborate on when the government and Tabung Haji (TH) had implemented the policy of not providing haj subsidies to individuals in the T20 income bracket.
Mohd Na'im added there was also a group of 400 individuals in the B40 income bracket who chose not to accept or receive the full subsidies from TH in order to perform haj last year.
"These individuals took it upon themselves when they chose not to receive the entire amount or turn down the subsidies since they wanted to strive to secure a mabrur haj (accepted by Allah)
"They wanted to let go of the subsidies to the people who really needed it. Therefore, I wish to express our gratitude to this group.
"By doing so, they did not only help TH but also allow us to provide assistance to more people who wish to perform the haj," he said.
Mohd Na'im was responding to the statement by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday where the latter pointed out the importance of the government to restructure subsidies to ensure it would benefit target groups such as the people in the B40 income group.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, cited Malaysia's subsidised rates for performing the haj pilgrimage under TH as an example of such an occurrence.
"So when TH still gave subsidies to their contributors who earned RM1 million per month and still supported them to perform haj, I said no.
"They can afford to pay for it themselves. TH can only assist them, but not with a subsidy," Anwar said in a speech at the launch of the national-level Madani Medical Scheme and Madani Afiat Programme at Bulatan Sultan Azlan Shah in Meru, Perak.
Anwar in May, announced that people earning more than the average salary or those who fall under the T20 would no longer receive any subsidies pertaining to electricity or haj.