Malaysia not sending pilgrims for the Haj this year

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will not be sending pilgrims for this year’s Haj season, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri.

He said the decision was made after receiving the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.

“Based on the briefings by the Health Ministry, Tabung Haji and the Special Muzakarah Committee Meeting of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs, held on Tuesday, the Haj pilgrimage for the 1441H Haj pilgrimage season has been postponed.

“This was a difficult decision as we know performing the Haj is of great importance to Muslims,” he told a press conference here.

Zulkifli said the syarak stated that doing things that could cause damage or harm must first be avoided before doing good deeds provided that the maslahah (benefit) derived was far less than the damage that was likely to occur.

“Performing the Haj pilgrimage, which is the fifth pillar of Islam, is closely linked to the concept of istito’ah or the capability of performing the pilgrimage in terms of health, safety, permission to travel to the Holy Land as well as finance.

“Without the capability in the matters mentioned, it is not obligatory to perform the pilgrimage,” he said.

Zulkifli said he had also submitted an official letter about the suspension to the Saudi Ambassador to Malaysia Datuk Dr Mahmoud Hussien Saeed Qattan, which would be presented to Saudi Arabia Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr Muhammad Saleh bin Taher Banten.

Malaysia is among the countries that have suspended the sending of their Haj pilgrims besides Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand and Brunei.

Tabung Haji group managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Nik Mohd Hasyudeen Yusoff meanwhile said pilgrims whose turn to perform this year’s Haj would be given priority to do so next year.

“Those whose turn is in 2021, however, will be given the opportunity to perform the Haj in the same year, subject to quota vacancy,” he said.

Nik Mohd Hasyudeen also said that all fees paid by this year’s pilgrims would be fully refunded to their respective accounts soon.

In fact, he said they would also be eligible to receive TH dividend for this year.