PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the restoration in quota for the Haj pilgrims this year was due to the good relationship between the Malaysian and the Saudi government.
He said the pilgrims are blessed with this opportunity which means that more Malaysian Muslims are able to perform the haj.
He also added that Malaysians are lauded for their good behaviour.
Najib said this in a speech before sending off the second batch of Malaysia pilgrims to the Holy Land today.
The ceremony was held at the Tabung Haji Complex in Kelana Jaya.
Last year Malaysia’s haj quota was 22,300 pilgrims, this year, the number was restored to 30,200 pilgrims.
He said this year, Tabung Haji is subsiding RM9,570 for each pilgrim and they need only pay RM9,980 each.
Najib also prayed for the pilgrims to have a safe journey and for all to attain a mabrur haj.
Also present were his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Malaysia Mahmoud Hussen Qattan, and Lembaga Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim.
The 420 pilgrims are scheduled to arrive in Madinah International Airport at about 1.30am (Saudi time) via Saudi airline, Flynas.
Malaysian haj pilgrims for this haj season will leave in stages for the Holy Land with the last batch leaving on Aug 26 and returning between Sept 7 and Oct 4.