The government today offered Haj trips sponsored by 1Malaysia Development Berhad to 111 imams and chairmen of village development and security committees in appreciation of their role and contribution to society.
Prime Minister Najib Razak handed over the offer letters at his official residence, Seri Perdana, here. Also present at the event were Melaka Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam and Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Noh Omar.
“It has been in my mind, since taking over as the prime minister, to do the best within the government’s means for the welfare of imams and village chiefs,” he said.
The 1MDB programme will benefit 57 imams and 54 chairmen of village development and security committees.
Najib said the selected people had never performed the Haj, and added that the date for their trip to the Holy Land this year would be make known soon.
The prime minister said the 1MDB programme would be an annual affair where imams, village chiefs and other eligible people would be considered for the Haj trip.
He also said that the government had helped these groups previously by raising their monthly allowances, from RM450 to RM750 for imams and from RM450 to RM800 for the chairmen of the village development and security committees.
– Bernama