Malaysia is still awaiting Saudi Arabia’s response to its request for an additional haj quota for 2026, with the deferral rate among pilgrims dropping to 18%.
NILAI: Malaysia is still awaiting a response from Saudi Arabian authorities on its request for an additional haj quota for next year.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan said any decision to increase the quota rests entirely with the Saudi government.
“So far, there has been no response, and we are unsure when approval might be received,” he told reporters after officiating an event here today.
He added that Malaysia hopes the request will be approved and that any additional quota granted would be fully utilised.
Zulkifli was previously reported as saying the government expects the number of Malaysian pilgrims to increase beyond the current Saudi-allocated quota of 31,600.
Meanwhile, he said the deferral rate for haj offers among prospective pilgrims for the 2026 season has dropped to 18%.
He attributed this reduction to various initiatives by Lembaga Tabung Haji, including early notification of offers.
These measures enabled depositors to ensure sufficient savings and placed greater emphasis on health screening and preparation guidance.
