The Malaysian Insight: Tabung Haji freezes haj costs for B40 group
TABUNG Haji (TH) said the government will cover the extra expense of travelling for the haj for B40 pilgrims, despite the full cost rising to RM30,850, compared to RM28,632 last year.
TH Group managing director and chief executive officer Amrin Awaluddin said that RM400 million was allocated for Haj financial assistance (Hafis) targeted at B40 and M40 first-time pilgrims.
He said the B40 group will receive RM19,870 per person, or 64% of the total haj cost, while the M40 group will receive RM14,870 per person, or 48% of the cost.
“During this year’s haj season, the payment rate for Muassasah pilgrims for the B40 group who are performing haj for the first time is set at RM11,980 per person, an increase of RM 1,000 compared to last year.
“Even if there is an increase in cost, the Malaysian government will bear RM1,000 and prospective pilgrims of the B40 group will only have to pay RM10,980 per person, the same as last year,” he said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.
Amrin said for a Muassasah pilgrim who is performing the haj for the first time in the M40 group, the fee increased by RM3,000 to RM15,980 per person, while T20 pilgrims have to pay the total cost of RM30,850 per person.
In the meantime, he also said TH will issue the haj offer letter to 31,600 pilgrims starting March 22.
“Prospective pilgrims must pass a health check before responding to the offer letter within seven working days through the THiJARI application or, for certain cases, they can visit any nearby TH branch.
“For the selection of pilgrims, TH will give priority to prospective pilgrims from 2020, followed by those in 2021 and then in 2022 and 2023,” he said.
He said, for haj appeals outside the queue, pilgrims have to pay the full cost, except for people making a mahram appeal or for assistants to elderly pilgrims.
He said that, as of now, a total of 3.8 million Malaysians are registered to perform the haj which would take about 146 years in waiting time, sticking to quota constraints. – Bernama, March 20, 2023.
