Malaysian Haj Quota Is 30,200 This Year

KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's haj quota this year has gone up to 30,200 people as compared to 27,900 people previously, says Pilgrims' Fund Board (TH) chairman Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim. He said the increase was achieved following discussions during the recent visit of Saudi Arabia ruler, King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud here recently. King Salman is also Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. "I am happy to state what transpired during the visit...thank God, TH was given a 30,200 haj quota this year compared to 22,230 people in the past three years," he said when debating the address of the Malaysia's King at the Dewan Rakyat (Malaysian Parliament) here Wednesday. Since January, the Malaysian haj quota was brought back to 27,900 pilgrims compared to 22,230 people since 2013. Abdul Azeez said the visit of the Saudi Arabian monarch also brought numerous other benefits apart from investments in the country. He said the visit also proved the credibility of the leadership of Prime Minister Najib Razak who drew the attention of Saudi Arabia which had picked Malaysia as the first country for its king's working visit to Asia. --BERNAMA