Update on Haj Places and Concessions for Singaporean Pilgrims
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns updates on Haj 2022, specifically regarding place allocation, age concessions, and the appeal process as raised by Dr Wan Rizal. Minister Masagos Zulkifli B M M stated that Singapore was granted a quota of 900 places, mirroring pre-pandemic levels after additional allocations were secured. He clarified that no concessions are available for pilgrims turning 65 due to Saudi Arabia’s age limit, which also mandates full vaccination and negative PCR tests. MUIS allocated these places to eligible 2020 pilgrims on a first-come-first-serve basis, but could not accept any appeals this year due to the short timeframe. Other registered pilgrims will be moved up in the queue for future years, subject to prevailing conditions and requirements mandated by the Saudi authorities.
Transcript
117 Dr Wan Rizal asked the Minister for Social and Family Development and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs (a) whether an update can be provided on the haj pilgrimage for 2022; (b) how will MUIS allocate the haj places to the pilgrims; (c) whether there will be concessions for those registered in the system but are turning 65 years old; and (d) how will MUIS handle appeal cases for the allocation of places for the pilgrimage.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced that Haj 2022 will be opened to one million pilgrims, comprising 850,000 international pilgrims. Singapore has been granted a Haj quota of 900 places, after being allocated with additional places in June 2022. Singapore was initially granted a Haj quota of 407 places, but with the additional quota, Singapore’s quota this year is similar to the official quota of 900 in previous years before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Saudi Arabia also announced that this year’s haj pilgrims must be below 65 years old. In compliance with this age limit, there will be no concessions for those who are turning 65 years old this year. Pilgrims must be COVID-19 vaccinated with a Saudi-approved vaccine, and must submit a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test within 72 hours from the time of departure to Saudi Arabia.
Given the deferment of Haj for Singaporean pilgrims in 2020 and 2021, MUIS will allocate the limited Haj quota to pilgrims who were supposed to perform their haj in 2020 and meet the conditions and requirements for Haj 2022. MUIS has allocated pilgrims on a first-come-first-serve basis, based on their Haj registration dates. Given the short timeframe and the need to ensure timely allocation of the limited Haj places, MUIS could not accept any appeals for Haj this year.
All other pilgrims who are in the Advance Haj Registration System will be automatically moved up in the queue to perform Haj in subsequent years. Pilgrims’ eligibility to perform the Haj will continue to be subject to conditions and requirements mandated by the relevant Saudi authorities.