New haj plan could cut waiting time to under 70 years, says minister

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The Ministry of Religious Affairs' newly proposed Haj Preparation Plan, or Seruan Istito’ah, has the potential to drastically reduce the haj waiting period from around 150 years down to less than 70, according to Minister Zulkifli Hasan. The new system, set to begin on January 1, 2029, will automatically reorganize the haj waiting list based on registration dates and those who have reached the minimum savings threshold of RM15,000.

If someone registers but hasn't yet met the savings requirement, their place will be included on the active haj waiting list once they do. Currently, the estimated waiting period could change based on the number of depositors meeting the savings requirement, Malaysia's haj quota, and developments in the Holy Land. Registered depositors will have a transition period of over two years to meet the savings target, until December 31, 2028.