Malaysia is still waiting for a decision on its appeal to maintain its quota of haj pilgrims, following the Saudi Arabian government's move of reducing the quota for all countries by 20 percent this year.

Tabung Haji chairperson Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim urged the haj applicants to be patient.

“We have made the appeal, so we now wait for Saudi Arabia’s decision. Perhaps we will get the decision in September.

“If you are unable to perform the haj this year, you may be able to do so next year. For next year's list, priority will be given to the 20 percent who can’t go this year,” he said after taking about 120 orphans from the Baling district shopping for Raya clothes at a departmental store in Sungai Petani today.

The official quota for Malaysian haj pilgrims is 0.1 percent or 27,900 of the country’s population, so with the reduction of 20 percent, only 22,320 will be able to perform the haj this year.

The reduced quota for all countries, is due to the upgrading of various facilities and the redevelopment of the city of Mecca, especially the expansion of the Masjidil Haram (Grand Mosque), over a three-year period since the end of the last haj season.

Abdul Azeez, who is also Baling member of parliament, said Tabung Haji was carefully considering, especially the age and health factors, in drawing up the list of Muslims who could perform the haj this year.

- Bernama