BANGI: Malaysia is still waiting for the Saudi Arabian government's decision on the appeal for an additional quota of 5,000 pilgrims in the 2022 haj season, says Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Idris Ahmad (pic).

       "There is no answer yet. We pray to Allah to ease the process,” he told the media after an Aidilfitri celebration with the chief executive officers of Malaysian companies and the permanent representative of the Corporate Dakwah Secretariat of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) here on Monday (May 23).

       On May 16, Idris was reported to have said that the government had submitted the appeal while attending the World Muslim Communities Council Conference in Abu Dhabi.

       Saudi Arabia has set a pilgrimage quota of one million haj pilgrims for the 2022 season, with 85% allocated to foreign pilgrims, and Malaysia has been given a quota of 14,306 for this season.

       This was just 45% of the usual annual quota, with the same percentage applying to all countries.

       The first flight of Malaysian haj pilgrims is scheduled to leave on May 31.

       Asked about the offer letter for the second group of haj pilgrims for the 2022 season, Idris said Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) had issued the offer letters on May 10 and the prospective pilgrims were given 10 days to respond.

       He said he had not received any information yet on how many had accepted the haj offer.

       On another matter, Idris said until today, Jakim had not been contacted by an informant who made claims of alleged SOP violations for food safety, hygiene and halal standards at an abattoir in Australia.

       "Investigations are ongoing and we are looking for more evidence. If there is information on other abattoirs please do alert us and we will take action,” he said.

       Meanwhile, on Monday's event, Idris said the dakwah approach in present times must be simple, concise, factual and interactive, in line with current trends.

       He said dakwah bodies must adapt to the current environment, including in their dakwah work, while the method of dakwah must always be fresh, interactive and relevant, because sometimes the approach of the past five years is no longer relevant in today's context. – Bernama