Singapore's Minister for Social and Family Development, Second Minister for Health and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli has expressed Singapore's support for the KSA decision to hold this year's Hajj with a limited number of citizens and residents in the country, due to the current state of the pandemic.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the minister said that the decision embodies KSA's "reiteration that human health and safety are among the priorities of Islam", and also noted that it is evidence that the KSA has given the utmost attention to scientific evidence and public health. The minister also thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and HRH the Crown Prince for the decisive and necessary measures taken.
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) announced in late May that the Hajj would be deferred a second time for Singapore pilgrims. "Muis will also facilitate the re-allocation of Haj places for the affected pilgrims to the following Haj year (2022). However, pilgrims’ eligibility to perform Haj 2022 will be subject to any requirements mandated by the relevant authorities in KSA as well as the prevailing COVID-10 situation around the world and in Singapore," Muis said in a statement.
At the time, Masagos wrote on his Facebook page that safety of the pilgrims has to be prioritised. "While we are confident of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s management of the pandemic, we are not yet informed of the extent of requirements they may impose. Both our governments must take the necessary precautions to curb the spread of the virus to protect ourselves, our families and fellow countrymen," he said on Facebook.