Malaysia Retains Labbaitom Award For Haj Management Excellence
By Amirul Mohd Sajadi
MAKKAH, May 30 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has further cemented its reputation as a global benchmark for haj management after Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) successfully retained the Labbaitom Award for a fifth consecutive year.
TH continued its strong performance by defending the Diamond Award for a second time for the 1447H/2026 haj season, the highest recognition conferred by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Haj and Umrah to the world’s leading haj management institutions.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Dr Zulkifli Hasan, said the achievement was a testament to the continued relevance, competitiveness and international recognition of Malaysia’s haj management model.
“This award is not just recognition for TH, but also for the entire Malaysian haj management ecosystem developed over decades.
“It covers preparations before departure, management in the Holy Land, welfare and medical aspects, worship guidance, and services upon the pilgrims’ return home,” he said after the award presentation ceremony here last night.
Zulkifli said among the factors contributing to the continued success was the culture of continuous improvement practised by TH after every haj season.
He said all feedback from pilgrims and staff would be evaluated to ensure that weaknesses were addressed and the evolving needs of pilgrims were met.
“TH never considers its system to be perfect. Once the haj season is over, we will conduct a comprehensive post-mortem to identify areas for improvement.
“This culture is what enables us to continue growing and maintain a world-recognised level of service,” he said.
Zulkifli said TH had also introduced various innovations, including the use of digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI)-based applications, to facilitate faster access to information for pilgrims and improve operational efficiency in the Holy Land.
According to him, the success was also driven by the high discipline of Malaysian pilgrims, who consistently adhered to the rules and gave full cooperation to TH officials throughout the haj season.
Zulkifli also expressed his appreciation to the Saudi Arabian Government, particularly Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, and Minister of Haj and Umrah Dr Tawfiq Fawzan Al-Rabiah, for the various transformations implemented in haj management.
“We have witnessed firsthand the many reforms carried out by Saudi Arabia, and they have greatly assisted TH in providing the best possible service to Malaysian pilgrims,” he said.
The Labbaitom Award is an annual accolade presented by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Haj and Umrah to haj managers from around the world in recognition of outstanding performance in haj management.
-- BERNAMA
