Umrah, haj costs expected to go up
A total of RM1, 000 will be charged to get the visa for umrah. Previously it was only RM200. Hence, the company has to increase the price which we believe will burden the pilgrims.” DATUK SERI ZAINAL ABIDIN YUSOF, Zahafiz Group Sdn Bhd executive chairman
In Malaysia, pilgrims have to apply for group insurance and personal insurance, which include the loss of personal belongings. On top of that, pilgrims also have to get insurance in Saudi Arabia.” DATUK MD DAUD CHE NGAH, Andalusia Travel & Tours executive chairman
The increment is for accommodation, meals, transportation costs and the enforced VAT, which was introduced by the Saudi Arabian government. Recently, the haj pilgrims would most probably be imposed with insurance which has been implemented for umrah.” HARUN KC AHMMU, Rayhar Travels Sdn Bhd management director
THE Haj Pilgrims Operators (PJHs) in the country believe that management costs for umrah and haj will increase this year. The operators claimed that such high costs could not be avoided following the decision by the Saudi Arabia government in implementing the Value-Added Tax (VAT) and imposing insurance terms as well as visa to haj and umrah pilgrims.
Hence, the costs for haj are expected to increase this year and, at the same time, will burden PJHs, as well as increase the need for assistance provided by Tabung Haji (TH).
PJHs claimed the prices offered by TH were low and the istito’ah concept, or affordability (kemampuan), should be introduced to reduce the burden of haj assistance that TH has to bear.
Zahafiz Group Sdn Bhd executive chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Yusof said they were expecting a rise in haj costs this year compared with previous years.
“A total of RM1, 000 will be charged to get the visa for umrah. Previously it was only RM200. Hence, the company has to increase the price which we believe will burden the pilgrims.
“This applies also to the cost for haj, whereby TH will cover at least RM9, 980, the fare will cost more than RM7,000 and the assistance given is a lot. This does not include meals, accommodation and the courses.”
He said the previous RM9,980 charges should be increased to relevant charges following the increase in the costs which cannot be avoided and at the same time will continue to burden TH.
“The prices to perform haj provided by TH are almost the same as umrah. Charges of RM7,000 to RM10,000 will be imposed for the 10 days of umrah, so going for haj for 40 days with RM9,980 is not reasonable.
“Instead, we have estimated the actual cost for one pilgrim staying in a room with five to six other people will cost at least RM25,000, including fare and accommodation,” he said.
As a company under PJH, Zainal also admitted to the burden of high costs to bring the pilgrims for umrah and haj which have been gradually increased every year.
“If we increase the price, people will not opt for us. However, if we maintain the old price, the costs will increase.
“Therefore, we have no choice but to lower our profits. For example, previously, for one pilgrim we can earn a profit of about RM1,000, but now we only get RM500,” said Zainal.
For Andalusia Travel & Tours executive chairman Datuk Md Daud Che Ngah, he said beginning Jan 1, pilgrims had to apply for several insurance policies in the country and also in Saudi Arabia.
“In Malaysia, pilgrims have to apply for group insurance and personal insurance, which include the loss of personal belongings.
“On top of that, pilgrims also have to get insurance in Saudi Arabia.
“They have to understand that insurance enforced by Saudi Arabia is to protect the safety and security of all during their stay in Makkah,” he said.
Rayhar Travels Sdn Bhd management director Harun KC Ahmmu said since the company was given the licence to bring pilgrims for haj since 1991, the costs had increased by 400 per cent today.
“The increment is for accommodation, meals, transportation costs and the enforced VAT, which was introduced by the Saudi Arabian government.
“Recently, the haj pilgrims would most probably be imposed with insurance which has been implemented for umrah.
“People need to understand that our journey is to worship and that whatever costs incurred are our willingness to worship that must be based on our ability,” he said.
He also believed that the actual costs to carry out umrah and haj should be provided to the pilgrims through the
istito’ah concept.
“I still remember a few years ago, some pilgrims told me that they do not want to take the assistance to perform haj. Instead, they were willing to pay for it using their own money.
“People should understand the
istito’ah concept and TH should bring in religious experts and consultants to explain further about the concept.
“I believe that Muslims in the country would have an open heart when they understand the concept,” he added.