Tabung Haji's proposed Saudi land purchase to be carefully assessed—deputy minister

• Dr Zulkifli Hasan emphasised that any decision made by Tabung Haji will take all relevant factors into account to ensure it benefits all Tabung Haji depositors.

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 25): The proposal to purchase land in Saudi Arabia will be carefully reviewed, considering market conditions, risks, and the financial capacity of Lembaga Tabung Haji, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan.

He emphasised that any decision made by Tabung Haji will take all relevant factors into account to ensure it benefits all Tabung Haji depositors.

“It is still too early to provide details, and there are no updates yet on amendments to property ownership laws,” he said.

He was responding to a question from Senator Hussin Ismail, who asked if Tabung Haji plans to buy land near Masjid al-Haram to improve services for Malaysian haj pilgrims, during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Negara.

Zulkifli added that Tabung Haji had signed long-term agreements with various service providers in Saudi Arabia to maintain high-quality services while ensuring the financial stability of Tabung Haji.

“Through these agreements, Tabung Haji has secured hotels within a 1km radius of Masjid al-Haram, enough to accommodate all Malaysian muassasah pilgrims.

He added that Tabung Haji is open to reviewing proposals that can help control costs while making improvements that benefit pilgrims, all within Tabung Haji’s financial capabilities.

In reply to a supplementary question about buying shares in existing hotels, Zulkifli said this would need thorough study to ensure the best decision.

He also said that Malaysia had secured long-term contracts for seven buildings in Makkah and three in Madinah, all within a 1km radius, which are highly sought after by other countries.

“Tabung Haji follows the best governance standards, with approval from the Ministry of Finance and full compliance with all required protocols.

“Any claims that governance procedures haven’t been followed are false, and such misinformation needs to be corrected to fully support Tabung Haji,” he added.

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