Singapore Communications and Information Minister Yaacob Ibrahim met with Saudi Minister for Haj Bandar Hajjar at his office on Tuesday and sought an increase in the quota for his country. The two ministers also discussed the arrangements being made for Haj pilgrims from Singapore.

Singapore’s official Haj quota is 680, based on the Muslim population which is 0.1 percent. This was decided by the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in 1987. The number of Haj pilgrims for any given year is subject to the availability of quota allotted by the Kingdom for that year.

The Singapore minister, who was on a five-day visit to the Kingdom, had requested Hajjar to revise its official Haj quota from 680 to 800. Singapore wanted to have an additional quota of 1500 which was not accepted by Saudi authorities due to the ongoing expansion works at the Grand Mosque.

Yacoob, who was accompanied by Haji Abdul Razak, chief executive officer of Majlis Ugama Islam Singapore (Islamic Religious council) and other officials, left for Singapore on Tuesday night.