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1MDB-funded haj pilgrims hurt by Dr M's remarks
Published:  Jan 15, 2017 8:44 PM
Updated: 12:55 PM

Haj pilgrims sponsored by the 1MDB Foundation said they were hurt by former Dr Mahathir Mohamad's remarks that their pilgrimage will not be divinely-accepted.

"I am hurt by the claim. Only Allah can judge our hard work and will after attending the haj course and performing the pilgrimage in the holy land.

"It was providence (rezeki) that I was able to perform the haj last year. I would only be able to go in 2032 if I had to wait in queue, and this would be impossible given my age and health condition.

"I hope Mahathir retracts his claims," Pulau Bahagia Village Development and Safety Committee (JKKK) chairperson Abdullah Sulung, 69, told Bernama.

He was among 73 from Terengganu who were sponsored by the 1MDB Foundation to do their pilgrimage in Makkah in 2016.

Kampung Kubang Badak JKKK chairperson Zuemi Abdullah, 41, who was sponsored to go on pilgrimage in 2015, hopes Malaysians will not be influenced by Mahathir's remarks.

"I hope Malaysians will support Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak because it was he who started this programme which prioritised imams, muezzins and community leaders (to do the pilgrimage)," he reportedly said.

Mahathir had questioned if the haj sponsored by 1MDB will be accepted by God as he said 1MDB's revenue sources are suspect.

However, 1MDB said all its businesses are legitimate.

The JKKK chiefs were met at an event where 110 recipients of the haj sponsorship from Terengganu were presented with official letters of selection.

More than 2,000 nominations were received nationwide, exceeding this year's quota of 1,100 people, said programme committee chairperson Jailani Ngah.

Jailani, who is also Najib's political secretary, said even Mahathir's son Mukhriz had nominated 20 community leaders to be sponsored under the programme when Mukhriz was Kedah menteri besar.

As such, he said, the attacks against the haj sponsorship programme is politically-motivated.

"Didn't Mahathir consider that his statement would hurt the feelings of the children and wives of those who had performed the haj under this programme but has since passed away?" he asked.

He said Najib's only wish is to help as many imams, muezzins and community leaders perform one of the five obligations of a Muslim.

Muslims are obligated to proclaim that Allah is the only God and Muhammad is His prophet, pray five times a day, fast during daylight hours in the Islamic calendar month of Ramadan, pay the tithe and perform the haj if they able to.

"The PM only has one wish, that is for all imam, muezzins and community leaders to perform the haj while he is in administraton as acknowledgement for their contributions to the religion, people and country," Jailani said.

The programme was this year expanded to village chiefs, Community Development Department (Kemas) officers and representatives from mufti offices.

A total 4,611 imams, muezzines and community leaders have been sponsored to perform the haj since the programme was introduced in 2011.

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