With haj around the corner, still no word on quota increase for Malaysia

With less than two months to go before the haj season, Malaysia has yet to receive a conclusive response on its second appeal over the issue of 10,000 additional spots which should have been announced in May. 

Malaysia previously succeeded in regaining its original quota of 31,600 pilgrims with a first addition of 350. 

This was announced by Lembaga Tabung Haji chairman Azman Mokhtar in April. 

MalaysiaNow understands that there is still no final word from Saudi Arabia on the second appeal. 

The estimated time frame for a decision is also unknown. 

The quota of pilgrims for each country is set at the rate of 0.1% of the total population.

Malaysia applied for additional slots due to an increase in population, which now numbers 31.95 million people.  

The haj quota is among the issues frequently raised in meetings between Malaysian and Saudi Arabian leaders. 

Saudi Arabia allowed an additional 10,000 slots after the Covid-19 pandemic following a meeting between former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

The first flight of haj pilgrims left on May 20. 

The haj, an annual event, is expected to begin on June 26 and continue until July.