KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 — The cost of completing a Haj pilgrimage has reportedly gone up to about RM31,000 this year, increasing by about RM2,368 from last season.
Utusan Malaysia today quoted Tabung Haji (TH) Haj executive director Datuk Seri Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman as saying that the main factors of the price increase was inflation in the global economy, taxes, currency exchange rates and real estate prices in Mecca and Madinah.
“This increase is also due to additional charges involving both existing and new facilities such as tents in Arafah and Mina, mutawwif (a guide for pilgrims) and better use of buses in Saudi Arabia,” he was quoted saying.
Syed Saleh however reportedly assured Malaysian Muslims that TH would continue to subsidise the cost of their first pilgrimage.
He said during the last Haj season, B40 pilgrims had to pay RM10,980 (38 per cent of the total cost), while non-B40 pilgrims had to pay RM12,980 (45 per cent of the total cost) to complete their pilgrimages.
Those performing the Haj a second time or more need to make full payment.
“To deal with the impact of the increased Haj costs, TH has signed a long-term agreement with airline companies and also leased buildings for pilgrims’ accomodation in Mecca and Medina for several seasons in an effort to maintain rental prices,” Syed Saleh said.
According to Reuters, the coming Haj season is expected to begin on June 23.
