The government has been urged to scrap a proposed requirement for prospective Hajj pilgrims to maintain RM15,000 in a dedicated savings account until their turn to perform the pilgrimage, amid concerns that it could burden Muslims, particularly those from lower-income groups.
Kubang Kerian MP Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the amount could rise to RM30,000 for married couples planning to perform the Hajj together.
He said the sum would be substantial for rural communities and could make it harder for them to prepare financially for the fifth pillar of Islam.
“If it is for two people, that means RM30,000 must remain in an account that cannot be touched until they perform the Hajj. RM30,000 is a very large amount for people in rural areas,” he said during the Budget 2027 debate in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Tuan Ibrahim also questioned the mechanism behind the proposal, asking whether the money would simply be held as savings or invested by Tabung Haji.
“If the money is being used for investment, the profits generated should be returned to the depositors,” he said.
He urged the government to consider alternative arrangements that would not place additional financial pressure on prospective pilgrims, while calling for the proposed requirement to be cancelled.
At the same time, Tuan Ibrahim supported announcing pilgrims’ departure dates at least a year in advance to give them sufficient time to prepare financially.
He said a longer preparation period would allow prospective pilgrims to accumulate the necessary funds without having to lock away a substantial amount of money before knowing when they would actually be called to perform the pilgrimage.
He also questioned the justification that the proposed requirement was intended to reduce the number of pilgrims declining Hajj offers, arguing that the authorities should instead make it easier for Muslims to fulfil the religious obligation.
“If studies suggest that RM15,000 must be kept in savings, we are often told that those who cannot afford it do not meet the istitaah requirement and are therefore not obliged to perform the Hajj,” he said.
Tuan Ibrahim explained that istitaah, or the ability to perform the pilgrimage, encompasses two categories: istitaah ikhtiariah and istitaah idtirariah.
“If the government makes it difficult for people to perform the Hajj, that is not istitaah. It means placing a burden on people who should be able to perform the pilgrimage, but suddenly find themselves unable to do so,” he said.
He stressed that Tabung Haji should prioritise helping Muslims fulfil their religious obligations rather than introducing mechanisms that could increase their financial burden.
Tuan Ibrahim said the institution was established to help Muslims prepare for the Hajj, adding that any changes to its policies should take prospective pilgrims’ financial capabilities into account.
“I believe this matter needs serious attention so that the proposal can be cancelled and another mechanism found that does not burden Muslims who wish to perform the Hajj,” he said.
