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| Source: Facebook page for Singapore's Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim. The meeting between Dr Yaacob and the Hajj Minister of Saudi Arabia, His Excellency Dr Bandar Bin Mohamed Al-Hajjar. |
Singapore's Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, led a delegation to the annual Hajj Ministerial Meeting in Saudi Arabia from 4 to 6 February 2015.
Dr Yaacob noted on Facebook that he had met the Hajj Minister, His Excellency Dr Bandar Bin Mohamed Al-Hajjar to discuss arrangements for the upcoming Hajj in September.
"We discussed many issues including the Hajj quota. I conveyed to the Hajj Minister that there are many Singaporeans who are currently on the waiting list to perform the Hajj and an increase in quota would help improve the situation. During the discussions, both of us agreed that the safety, welfare and security of the Hajj pilgrims must be given utmost priority," he said on his Facebook page.
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| Source: Facebook page for Singapore's Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, showing the construction work in Makkah. Dr Yaacob commented: "Massive construction and redevelopment work are still ongoing at the Holy Mosque, Masjidil Haram in Makkah. These are temporary inconveniences. Pilgrims will greatly benefit from the upcoming expanded mataf area as well as upgraded facilities and amenities when the works are completed." |
Singapore has 680 places for Hajj every year as calculated on the formula of 0.1% of the total Muslim population. The proportion was set by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference in 1987. Singapore requests more places every year, and the Saudi government was able to grant 1,500 additional places for Hajj each year from 2008 to 2011.
In 2012, the Saudi Government began restricting global quotas because of construction work around Makkah (Mecca). In 2013, Dr Yaacob revealed that there are now approximately 800,000 resident Muslims in Singapore, 15% of Singapore’s total population of 5.31 million. That year, Singapore’s Hajj quota was cut to 544 by the Saudi government as part of a reduction of the global quota. On appeal, the Saudi authorities restored Singapore’s quota to 680.
The Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (Muis) handles Hajj applications for Singapore. Due to high demand, those who want to go for Hajj multiple times can only register again after a 10-year lapse from their last Hajj. According to Muis, Hajj cost between S$4,650 and S$10,500 in 2010, the most recent year the figures are available. That year, 2,180 (680 plus 1,500) pilgrims went on Hajj. More than 5,000 pilgrims went on Hajj in 1992, the highest number in the records between 1983 and 2010.
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