Politics · Malaysia Bureau
Drop RM15,000 haj savings requirement, urges PAS leader
A senior opposition figure has called for the scrapping of mandatory savings rules for prospective pilgrims, arguing the requirement creates undue hardship for rural Muslim communities seeking to perform the Islamic pilgrimage.
LSN Malaysia ·
Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has urged the government to reconsider the RM15,000 savings prerequisite for Malaysian Muslims applying for the haj pilgrimage, contending that the financial threshold disproportionately affects rural populations.
The PAS politician raised the concern during parliamentary proceedings, highlighting how the compulsory savings rule may exclude lower-income aspirants from fulfilling one of Islam's Five Pillars. He emphasised that the requirement creates barriers for financially disadvantaged communities in rural areas where income levels are typically lower than urban centres.
The haj savings scheme has been a longstanding requirement managed by Malaysia's Islamic bodies to regulate pilgrim numbers and ensure financial preparedness for the journey to Mecca. However, the strict accumulation target has drawn periodic criticism from those who argue it imposes excessive financial burdens on devotees of modest means.
The remarks come amid ongoing discussions about accessibility to Islamic religious observances and the need to balance administrative requirements with practical realities facing Malaysia's Muslim population. Officials have not yet publicly responded to the legislative call for policy revision.