Inflation, currency exchange rates contributed to higher haj costs this year, Dewan Rakyat hears

KUALA LUMPUR: The inflation and taxation rate in Saudi Arabia and the high exchange rate of the US dollar and Saudi Riyal against the ringgit are among the reasons that contributed towards the cost of performing the haj to increase by 8% this year, says Senator Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar.

The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) said the rising cost to perform haj was inevitable because the costs involved are exposed to several factors beyond the control of Tabung Haji.