KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's request to see their Hajj pilgrimage request for more pilgrims from the country was denied by Saudi Arabia. They were among 40 countries that were denied an increase in pilgrims for this year's Islamic pilgrimage to the Gulf country. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom said the Saudi government only allows one percent of the population to perform the pilgrimage. “All countries are given quota of one percent of the population. Since Malaysia has 28 million people, the Saudi government only allows 28,000 people to perform haj. “The 40 countries were given flexibility to seek additional quota due to the long waiting period,” he told a press conference after closing 22nd Syariah and Civil Law Coordination Conference here Friday. Khir said that the government applied for additional quota for Malaysian pilgrims as there are 982,000 people on the waiting list. On September 12, Tabung Haji (TH) sent a second letter to the Saudi government applying for additional quota of 10,000 Malaysian pilgrims this year. But that request was denied.
