Malaysia Awaits Letter On This Year's Haj Quota

KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is still waiting for a letter from the Saudi Arabian government on the Haj pilgrim quota for this year, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=955949
Published: Jun 14, 2013

He hoped the quota could be maintained at 28,000 pilgrims, same as last year's figure because currently, about one million Muslims in this country were on the Haj waiting list.

"However, we understand that the Saudi Arabian government wants to provide comfort and the best services for Haj pilgrims. At the same time, in Mecca, there are some upgrading works going on...the tawaf area is reduced during the construction works for the pilgrims' convenience.

"We learned that the Haj quota for our neighbour, Indonesia, has been reduced. If there are too many pilgrims, they may face difficulties in performing their religious obligations (during the Haj programme).

"Whatever it is, we will wait for the letter from the Saudi Arabian government and consider the next move," he said after presenting awards for academic excellence to Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) Baitulmal students at Kompleks Pusat Islam, here, today.

Also present were MAIWP director Datuk Che Mat Che Ali and its chief executive officer Zainal Abidin Jaffar. A total of 510 excellent students received financial assistance amounting to RM141,550 from MAIWP Baitulmal.

Yesterday, the Saudi Arabian government was reported to cut Indonesia's quota by 20 per cent or 42,000 pilgrim for this year's Haj season in view of the limited space following the ongoing expansion of the holy sites, particularly the Grand Mosque (Masjidil Haram) in Mecca and Nabawi Mosque in Medina.

Jamil Khir said for this year's Haj quota, the government would give priority to pilgrims aged above 70.

"We will also scrutinise the appeals from applicants whom we should give consideration for reasons like wanting to accompany their disabled or frail relatives to perform the Haj.

Meanwhile, asked to comment on a news report about 22 women sentenced to whipping for syariah offences in Johor, he urged the people not to sensationalise the issue.

He said the public needed to differentiate between the whipping punishment under civil law and syariah law in determining their views on the issue.

"Whipping in syariah is different from that under civil law as the former does not injure the offender. It's not only Johor, but other states too (impose whipping), so there's no need to sensationalise the matter," he said.

The 22 women were among 39 syariah offenders sentenced to receive six strokes of the cane for incest and having sex out of marriage in Johor since two months ago.