Those who performed their haj pilgrimage under the Prime Minister-1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) Foundation Special Programme need not worry about the status of their haj.

Kelantan mufti Mohamad Shukri Mohamad said they should instead be confident that each religious obligation performed would be accepted by Allah, the Almighty and that it (haj status) was not determined by anyone.

"They should place their hope and 'berdoa' (pray) that their religious rituals like the daily prayers, fasting, paying zakat (tithe) and performing the haj are accepted and be convinced that Allah accepts their requests," he said when contacted in Kuala Lumpur today.

The mufti was commenting on the statement by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad who claimed that the haj performed through the 1MDB Foundation sponsorship would not be 'haji mabrur' (divinely accepted haj).

Mohamed Shukri said the foundation's sponsorship programme should continue to help the less fortunate perform the fifth tenet of Islam.

"Not everyone has the opportunity to be a 'tetamu Allah' (guest of Allah) and this noble effort can continue... it's not a problem to accept this sponsorship to perform the haj," he said.

Meanwhile, National Mosque imam Khisamudin Ismail said Dr Mahathir's statement was only politically motivated and the pilgrims involved should not be worried.

Pekan District Village Heads Association chairperson Abdul Kadir Bakar said he was disappointed and saddened by the former premier's statement on the matter.

"To me, he has no right to determine whether a person's haj pilgrimage is 'haji mabrur' or not.

"Also, the statement is politically motivated, making some of the pilgrims involved angry as they are grateful to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for having initiated such a programme,' he said.

Abdul Kadir said he himself had the opportunity to perform the haj with the launching of the programme in 2011.

- Bernama