MAKKAH, June 4 — The success achieved by Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) in managing Malaysian haj pilgrims, which has earned various recognitions from the Saudi government, has sparked the interest of Thai haj management authorities.
Thai haj delegation head Abdul Baziz Chema, who is also Yala Religious Council head, said the Muslim community in Southern Thailand think of Malaysia as a “big brother” due to its extensive experience in handling haj pilgrims, which should be emulated by their country.
“TH represents the success of the Muslim community in Malaysia, and it is our obligation to learn from it. I am very confident that by acquiring knowledge from TH, God willing, we will be able to match matters related to haj management someday,” he said.
He spoke to reporters after meeting TH management officials at the TH headquarters here. He was accompanied by 15 people, including representatives from the Central Islamic Council of Thailand, health office, and Interior Ministry.
Baziz said Thailand does not have a specific body to oversee haj affairs, with the pilgrimage managed by 88 tourism agencies. The cost of performing haj as a Thai national is around RM40,000 without subsidies.
This situation has led to only 7,000 out of 11,000 haj quota for Muslims in the country being filled.
Meanwhile, Malaysian haj delegation head Datuk Seri Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman said the meeting enabled both sides to exchange views on haj management issues.
“We see opportunities for collaboration and the exchange of experiences and perspectives on haj affairs. This can enhance the performance and quality of services and facilities provided to the respective countries’ haj pilgrims.
“Undoubtedly, each country has strengths that can be learned from,” he said.
— Bernama
