Consider haj cost increase before going to Holy Land, prospective pilgrims told

BUKIT GANTANG: Prospective haj pilgrims have been told to make sure that they can afford to go to the Holy Land and take into account the risk of haj cost increase.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Senator Datuk Idris Ahmad reminded the pilgrims that having the provisions for the journey is one of the compulsory requirements for Muslims to perform the haj.

"We need to understand the concept of worship and Allah SWT does not force us (to perform haj) if we cannot afford to do so. Don't end up exhausting your money and drying up your savings," he told reporters after attending the 'Bantu Rakyat' mobile sales programme here today.

He was responding to recent media reports on talks about the possibility of an increase in next year's haj cost.

The matter was raised by Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) chairman Azman Mokhtar last month when he said TH was expected to discuss the issue of the increase in haj cost with the government.

Earlier this year, TH estimated the cost of performing the haj for each muassasah pilgrim for this year at RM25,540, but the actual figure stood at RM28,632 and of that amount, B40 muassasah pilgrims were only required to pay RM10,980, while the non-B40 group had to pay RM12,980.

Idris said so far there is no discussion by TH regarding the increase in haj cost for next year.

-- BERNAMA