Minister defends Hajj Savings Minimum, says Tabung Haji will not act as a bank
During the 2027 budget wrap-up, the minister rejected claims that a RM15,000 minimum savings rule would turn Tabung Haji into a bank, emphasizing its statutory mandate.
In the closing session of the 2027 budget, the minister addressed concerns raised by MP Idris Ahmad that setting a RM15,000 minimum balance for future Hajj pilgrims could cause Tabung Haji to behave like a banking institution. He clarified that Tabung Haji's activities are governed by the Tabung Haji Act, and it will continue to operate within that legal framework without taking on banking functions. The minimum-savings proposal is intended to help pilgrims prepare financially and to curb the number of rejected or postponed Hajj applications. Opposition members, including Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and Hamzah Zainudin, warned that the requirement might not reflect true financial capacity and could place additional strain on couples needing to save RM30,000 together, potentially displacing millions of existing depositors from the Hajj queue.
Why it matters
The debate affects how millions of Malaysians plan and afford their Hajj pilgrimage.
How the sides frame it
HIGH AGREEMENTBoth camps report the same facts about the RM15,000 minimum and Tabung Haji's legal status, but centrist coverage frames it as the minister defending the proposal against criticism, while right-leaning coverage highlights the initiative as a scheme to ensure pilgrims can afford Hajj.
CENTER
Centrist coverage presents the minister’s defense of the minimum-savings rule and stresses opposition concerns about financial strain.
RIGHT
Right-leaning coverage portrays the measure as a proactive scheme to boost pilgrims’ financial readiness and affordability.
The right emphasises
- Seruan Istito'ah scheme aims to strengthen financial readiness among future Hajj pilgrims
- minimum balance automatically enrolls depositors onto the Hajj waiting list, removing separate registration
- Tabung Haji operates within the Tabung Haji Act and will not act as a commercial bank
In this story
