"I shared that I first performed Hajj in 1988 and ma sha' Allah, how the vicinity has changed over the years. Despite hosting more pilgrims, the hospitality and services are improving every year and this has attracted more and more Singaporeans to want to perform the Hajj," he said on his Facebook page.
"I appealed for more places to be extended to Singaporeans, so that our current Hajj waiting list can be reduced."
Minister Masagos also met with Chairman Madinah Adillah, Sheikh Hatim Jaffar Bali and Chairman of Muassasah Southeast Asian Pilgrims, Dr Mohamed Amin Hasan Andergiri. The Adilla is the KSA government agency in charge of coordinating pilgrim activities in Madinah, KSA, while the muassasah system was implemented in 2000 to introduce more regulation into managing pilgrims. Where travel organisers used to make their own unregulated agreements with private agents in KSA, only officially-appointed agents in KSA under the muassasah system may now do the work.
Minister Masagos also met with Chairman Madinah Adillah, Sheikh Hatim Jaffar Bali and Chairman of Muassasah Southeast Asian Pilgrims, Dr Mohamed Amin Hasan Andergiri. The Adilla is the KSA government agency in charge of coordinating pilgrim activities in Madinah, KSA, while the muassasah system was implemented in 2000 to introduce more regulation into managing pilgrims. Where travel organisers used to make their own unregulated agreements with private agents in KSA, only officially-appointed agents in KSA under the muassasah system may now do the work.
"I commended the Saudi authorities who have rendered excellent services to the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) and Association of Muslim Travel Agents (AMTAS) officials to ensure that our Singaporean pilgrims are able to perform their Hajj smoothly every year," he added.
"Let us continue to pray for the best outcome for our appeal for more Hajj places, in sha' Allah."
The Muis Hajj website says that Muslims who register at the time of writing will perform Hajj in 2070 (52 years from 2018).
"Let us continue to pray for the best outcome for our appeal for more Hajj places, in sha' Allah."
The Muis Hajj website says that Muslims who register at the time of writing will perform Hajj in 2070 (52 years from 2018).
In 2017, Singapore’s official Hajj quota was 800, based on 0.1% of Singapore's Muslim population. This formula of 0.1% was decided by the Organisation
of Islamic Conference (OIC) in 1987. Priority is given to first-timers, with repeaters capped at 10% of the quota in any year. Repeaters are generally able to perform Hajj again only after 10 years.
According to the Singapore Department of Statistics' 2015 census figures, the latest available for reported religion, 14% of the population are Muslims. In 2018, the total population is 5.6 million, according to Singstat; Worldometers put it at 5.5 million in 2015. This makes the 800 quota figure about right, as 0.1% of 14% of 5.5 million is 770.
Details:
Browse Muis' instructions for applying for Hajj