KUALA LUMPUR: The government will announce the financial assistance (subsidy) from Tabung Haji (TH) for those going for the haj pilgrimage this year after Saudi Arabia finalises the cost and standard operating procedure (SOP) for the pilgrimage.

       Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Senator Datuk Idris Ahmad said the Saudi government had increased its value added tax (VAT), which was introduced in 2018, from 5% to 15%.

       He said there would also be the requirement on pilgrims’ accommodation for those sharing rooms.

       “With the SOP on Covid-19, a lower number of pilgrims will be allowed to share a room that used to accommodate six or seven people,” he said after an event on the Tabung Haji Mobility Programme at Menara TH yesterday, Bernama reported.

       Idris said the Malaysian government could only finalise the amount of the subsidy, as well as the total cost of the haj pilgrimage, after the announcement by the Saudi government.

       Meanwhile, TH board chairman Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar said the distribution of the pilgrims’ fund board’s profit would be announced end of the month after the matter had been finalised. On the mobility programme, he said TH had donated 25 multi-purpose vehicles worth RM2.3mil to selected welfare homes and associations.