INFLATION and the taxation rate in Saudi Arabia, as well as the high exchange rate of the US dollar and Saudi riyal against the ringgit, are among the reasons for the 8% increase in rising costs for the haj pilgrimage this year.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said the rising cost was inevitable due to several factors beyond the control of Tabung Haji.
Mohd Nai’m said the cost to perform the haj was now at RM30,850 for each pilgrim for the 1444 Hijrah (2023) season, an 8% increase from RM28,632 for the 2022 season (1443 Hijrah).
“Ongoing development projects in Makkah and Madinah which led to the demolition of accommodation for pilgrims have put pressure on the rental price market.
“There are also charges imposed by the Saudi Arabian authorities for various services for the welfare and comfort of pilgrims in the Holy Land,” he said in a reply to Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PN-Kuala Krai).
Abdul Latiff had asked about the criteria used by the government to classify the B40, M40 and T20 groups in determining who would be offered to perform haj this year, as well as the number of haj pilgrims who accepted the offer for this season.
The minister said the criteria to categorise the potential haj pilgrims in the B40, M40 and T20 groups were based on background checks of their income from the existing database.
“Tabung Haji identifies the candidates based on the government’s list of recipients for the Rahmah Cash Aid.
“The T20 groups are identified by the monthly individual income of more than RM15,000 and not based on household income,” he said.
For the 2023 haj season, Mohd Na’im said 45.7% of pilgrims were selected from the B40 group, followed by 52.3% from the M40 category, and 2% from the T20.
