No special treatment, Neelofa's visa from private arrangement

Tabung Haji (TH) today clarified that actress Neelofa was never given any special treatment for her to skip the waiting list of those wanting to perform their haj.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said TH is also working together with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to ensure a transparent system where everyone gets their turn according to the order.

He denied there was any special quota for the ministers or deputy ministers or for anyone to skip the waiting list.

“The issue of favouritism does not arise. TH always ensures that the process is carried out transparently,” he said.

He also denied allegations that special preference was given to Neelofa who was given visa to perform haj, just a month after registering.

Instead, the visa was given by a private firm and not by TH, he told reporters after sending off haj pilgrims at Kompleks Islam Jubli Perak, in Panji here last night.

A total of 1,600 pilgrims from Kelantan will be performing haj this year.

At the ceremony last night, 150 pilgrims departed from Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Pengkalan Chepa and transitted at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 12.05am before boarding the next flight to Madinah at 4.05 this morning.

Meanwhile, Asyraf said TH received 76,000 appeals to perform haj this year but there are only 3,695 available seats.

He said the availability were because some registered members had rejected the offer to perform haj for various reasons.