SEPANG: About 6,000 prospective pilgrims, or 20 per cent of those eligible, have accepted their haj offer letters for the 1446H/2025M season.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar said the distribution of all offer letters would be completed by Jan 15.
"To date, about 6,000 individuals, or 20 per cent, have accepted their offers and undergone health screenings," he said at the launch of the 1446H/2025M Haj, Umrah and Pilgrimage Travel Operators Carnival.
"For those who do not receive their offer letters by Jan 15, it means they have not been selected for this year's pilgrimage."
Na'im said Tabung Haji has received 60,000 appeal applications and the appeal process will begin after Jan 15.
Addressing concerns over the high costs of haj, Na'im said this has not been a significant factor in prospective pilgrims declining offers.
"From last year's data, we received 9,000 appeals, and all of them agreed to pay the full cost. They were fully committed to covering the expenses.
"So, high costs are not a significant concern."
Previously, it was reported that haj offer letters for 31,600 prospective pilgrims for the 1446H/2025M season would be issued in stages starting Dec 16.
The announcement was made by the Lembaga Tabung Haji group managing director and chief executive officer Syed Hamadah Syed Othman during a special press conference at the TH headquarters.
He said prospective pilgrims must complete their haj payments and pass a health screening before accepting their offers.