Kuala lumpur: Malaysia is currently awaiting a response from Saudi Arabian authorities regarding its request for an additional haj quota for the upcoming year, as stated by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Dr. Zulkifli Hasan. He emphasized that the decision to increase the quota lies with the Saudi Arabian government, expressing hope for a favorable outcome.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr. Zulkifli noted that there has been no response so far, and it remains uncertain when approval might be received. He assured that Malaysia is prepared to fully utilize any quota allocated, including any additional quotas if granted. Dr. Zulkifli made these remarks while speaking to reporters after inaugurating the Syariah Crime Among Youth Convention, organized by Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) in collaboration with the Negeri Sembilan Syariah Prosecution Department.

Previously, Dr. Zulkifli expressed expectations that the number of Malaysian haj pilgrims would increase in the future, compared to the current quota of 31,600 allocated by Saudi Arabia. Malaysia has officially submitted a request for an additional quota to accommodate more pilgrims in the coming years.

In addition, Dr. Zulkifli highlighted a reduction in the deferral rate of haj offers among prospective pilgrims under the Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) for the 2026 haj season to 18 percent. This improvement is attributed to various initiatives implemented by TH, such as early notification of offers, ensuring sufficient savings, emphasizing health screenings, and providing better guidance on haj preparations. Regular updates to prospective pilgrims have also been part of these efforts.