KUALA LUMPUR: Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) has allocated more than RM400 million towards subsidising the cost of performing the haj for first-time pilgrims from the B40 and M40 group.
This, said TH executive director Datuk Seri Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman, is being done despite the cost of performing the haj having risen to RM30,850 this year from RM28,632 last year.
He said they will be maintaining the pilgrimage cost for the 'muassasah' pilgrims from the B40 segment at RM10,980, the same as last year.
He said this was due to the government having agreed to subsidise RM1,000 per pilgrim for the haj season.
"Last year, the targeted haj payments had only involved two categories, namely the B40 and non-B40. This year, it will be split up into three, namely B40, M40 and T20.
"For the B40 group, the cost of the haj, after taking into account the 61 per cent financial aid, will come up to RM10,980.
"The M40, meanwhile, will receive 48 per cent in financial aid, meaning they only have to pay RM15,980.
"As for the T20, namely those who earn more than RM15,000 a month, have to pay the full cost which is RM30,850 per person," he said.
Syed Saleh was speaking at a press conference on the cost and financial aid for the 2023 haj season at Menara TH here today.
Also present were TH group managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Sri Amrin Awaluddin, and general manager of haj management, Nurrin Anuwar Shamsuddin.
He said those who had appealed for their turn to perform the pilgrimage despite it not being their turn, would have to pay the full cost of RM30,850 per person.
On the selection criteria for the 31,600 pilgrims this year, he said TH will prioritise those who were unable to perform the haj in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, followed by those scheduled to do their haj in 2022 and 2023.
