KUALA LUMPUR: Payments that have already been made for haj this year will be fully refunded into the pilgrims' Tabung Haji (TH) accounts.
In a statement today, TH said the amount would also be eligible for this year's profit distribution.
"TH asks that all future pilgrims to accept this decision and pray that things go back to normal and for haj to resume next year," it said.
TH group managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Nik Mohd Hasyudeen Yusof said the decision to defer pilgrimage for 31,600 Malaysian pilgrims showed the government's concern for the safety and well-being of the people.
"In light of this postponement, all 2020 haj pilgrims will be given priority to perform haj in 2021.
"As for those who were scheduled to go for haj in 2021, they will also get the opportunity to perform the haj subject to availability based on the quota for the year," he said.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad al-Bakri today announced that Malaysia would not be sending its pilgrims for the annual haj this year, amid uncertainty over the Covid-19 pandemic.
It was reported that Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, and Brunei had also deferred their plans to attend the haj this year.