KUALA LUMPUR: Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) has set a minimum savings requirement of RM15,000 for pilgrims to accept their haj offers to ensure they can afford the pilgrimage.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Marhamah Rosli told the Dewan Rakyat that the move aims to identify prospective pilgrims who meet the financial istita’ah (capability) requirement for their allocated year.
“Among the efforts introduced by Tabung Haji is the setting of a minimum savings rate of RM15,000 for acceptance of haj offers to ensure TH can screen prospective pilgrims who truly fulfil the financial istita’ah conditions,” she said.
She added that the amount represented the lowest haj payment rate since 2001.
Marhamah said the initiative has delivered positive results, adding that the postponement of haj offers has dropped significantly from 50 per cent to 18 per cent for the current season.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan previously revealed the 18 per cent figure on Jan 2, identifying health factors as the primary reason for postponement. Financial reasons now rank third.
In December 2024, TH announced that pilgrims under the “muassasah” (basic) scheme would have their fees subsidised by 55 per cent or RM18,300, with an additional RM1,000 financial aid from the government.
Managing director and chief executive officer Syed Hamadah Syed Othman said this means B40 pilgrims would only need to pay RM15,000 to perform the haj.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
