Malaysia Leaving It To Saudi Govt To Decide Quota For Haj Pilgrims

From Noor Hammad Wariman JEDDAH, June 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has left it to the Saudi Arabian government on the quota for Haj pilgrims from the country, said Prime Minister Najib Razak. "I thank the government of Saudi Arabia for the facilities provided and regarding the quota, I have presented the current position, and handed it over to the Saudi Arabian government to consider the quota for Malaysia," he told Malaysian journalists after his meeting with King Salman Abdulaziz al-Saud here Sunday. The quota for Malaysian pilgrims for the 2015 Haj season remains at 22,230 people. Previously, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom had said the retention of the quota implemented since 2013 was decided by the Saudi Arabian Government following expansion works and development of the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, which was still ongoing. The prime minister said he would not make any announcement on this and left it to the government of Saudi Arabia, as the matter also concerned other countries. Meanwhile, the prime minister said he represented the Malaysian King in inviting King Salman for an official visit to Malaysia. He also invited Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif al-Saud to visit Malaysia at an appropriate time. Najib said apart from that, he also expressed Malaysia's desire to see more tourists, including students from Saudi Arabia, visiting Malaysia. He then left for Makkah in the evening to perform the Umrah (Minor Haj). Before commencing the Umrah, Najib will also make a visit to the Mashaaer al-Mugaddasah (Southern Line) Makkah Mass Rail Transit (Makkah Metro) project, which involves Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (Prasarana). Prasarana won the contract to handle the operations and maintenance of the first phase of the mass rapid transportation system. -- BERNAMA