Malaysia awaiting Haj quota from Saudi Arabia

Malaysia has yet to receive the official notification on the number of haj pilgrims for this year following the Saudi Arabian government's directive to reduce haj pilgrims' quota by 20 per cent to all countries.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said until then, Lembaga Tabung Haji could not produce the final list of Malaysian pilgrims for this year.

"The quota is the absolute right of the Saudi government. Our hands are tied until we get the black and white from the Saudi government," he told reporters after receiving RM4.2 million in business tithes from Tabung Haji on behalf of the Federal Territories Zakat (tithe) Collection Centre here on Wednesday.

Commenting on a report that Indonesia would ask for a compensation from Saudi Arabia for its losses due to the quota cut, he said Malaysia would not do so as its haj management was conducted through the government to government concept with only one body issuing haj visas from the Saudi government.