The government and tabung haji (th) will consider increasing financial assistance for prospective pilgrims from the b40 income group if the cost of performing the haj continues to rise:he government and Tabung Haji (TH) will consider increasing financial assistance for prospective pilgrims from the B40 income group if the cost of performing the haj continues to rise, the Dewan Rakyat was told today. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Marhamah Rosli said TH had continued to provide targeted financial assistance to B40 pilgrims this year despite rising haj costs.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the actual cost of performing the haj this year stood at RM33,300 per pilgrim, but those in the B40 category were required to pay only RM15,000, with the remaining RM18,300 covered through TH's financial assistance scheme. Marhamah stated that the assistance is funded through TH's investment returns generated from depositors' savings and must be provided prudently and on a targeted basis, considering the needs of prospective pilgrims and the interests of depositors as a whole. She also mentioned that TH will study the proposal to increase financial assistance for B40 pilgrims for future haj seasons.

Marhamah highlighted that TH is reviewing improvements to its haj queue management system to make it more systematic and equitable, especially for depositors who had planned ahead, saved consistently, and accumulated sufficient funds. This move could reduce the need for repeated replacement offers when selected pilgrims defer their pilgrimage due to financial constraints.

Currently, haj registrations exceed four million people, while Malaysia's annual haj quota remains at around 31,600 pilgrims, resulting in very long waiting periods for newly registered applicants. The government and TH remain committed to improving the quality of haj services, welfare, and safety, with the aspiration of positioning Malaysia as a global leader in haj management and services.