TH hoping for 10,000 additional places for haj this year

Its chairman Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim said TH would seek the assistance of the Prime Minister's Office to send an application to the King of Saudi Arabia.

"Normally a last minute additional quota will be allocated as a sign of good relationship between the two countries.

"Last year even though Iran was not sanctioned, we received an additional 5,000 places...this year, maybe we can get more since Iran have been sanctioned," he said at the 59th National level Quran Recital Assembly prize presentation.

Wan Ainuddin Hilmi Abdullah, the winner in the men's category and Nor Azrah Ayub who emerged victorious in the women's category, received a Proton Exora car each from TH.

Azeez also reminded TH depositors to constantly update their passbook and personal information to facilitate receipt of the letter of offer for haj pilgrimage.

On the compensation payment to families of victims involved in the crane collapse tragedy at the Grand Mosque in September last year, Azeez said the Saudi Arabian government was currently working on it.

"TH has been keeping in touch with the government of Saudi Arabia and we cannot put pressure on them...we have to be patient," he said.

The Saudi Arabian government had announced compensation of Saudi Riyal (SR) 1 million (RM1.3 million) to each victim's family and SR500,000 (RM650,000) for each of the injured pilgrims.