Malaysian Government Strives To Sustain Haj Subsidy Although Tough

PASIR PUTEH (Kelantan, Malaysia), Sept 11 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian government will work at maintaining the Haj subsidy for the country’s pilgrims despite facing rising costs of managing the pilgrimage currently. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said Tabung Haji’s giving of over US$2,379 (RM10,000) in Haj subsidy for each Malaysian pilgrim was required although the pilgrimage management costs such as for hotel accommodation, food and transportation rose each year. Tabung Haji is the Malaysian hajj pilgrims fund board. “However, this (subsidy) has made the Haj costs for each Malaysian pilgrim the lowest in the world,” he said here, Sunday. Asyraf Wajdi said Prime Minister Najib Razak had given his commitment that the subsidy be maintained to facilitate Muslims performing the fifth tenet of Islam. Hence, he said, the people should be grateful and thankful to the government’s sensitivity. -- BERNAMA