Malaysia ready to host Grand Haj Symposium

JEDDAH, Saudi - Religious Affairs Minister Senator Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar plans to bring the Grand Haj Symposium organised annually in Saudi Arabia to Malaysia soon.

Mohd Na'im, who is currently on a work visit to Saudi Arabia and performing haj, said he would discuss the matter with Saudi Arabia's Minister of Haj and Umrah Dr Tawfiq Fauzan Muhammed Al Rabiah.

"Perhaps we can do it for the Asean region and Malaysia will host it...Tabung Haji (TH) and the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) are ready," he told reporters after attending the symposium here.

The symposium brought together scholars and experts from around the world to share knowledge, research findings and best practices in all aspects of haj.

Mohd Na'im said that if the symposium is held in Malaysia, it will help more regional haj and umrah industry players to participate in the discussion.

Mohd Na'im said that TH, which has 60 years of experience in managing haj affairs, could also share its success with other Muslim countries.

He said Malaysia's presence at the 47th Grand Haj Symposium which was held on Tuesday (June 20), was important in getting information directly from the government of Saudi Arabia about the efforts introduced by the country to facilitate future haj.

Also present were TH group managing director and chief executive officer Syed Hamadah Syed Othman and head of the Malaysian Haj Delegation Datuk Seri Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman. - BERNAMA