Bandar Seri Begawan - Amidst the cap in quota to perform Haj for intending pilgrims in the Sultanate, members of the public have suggested for an alternative source for those goyernment servants who have performed Haj with their own expenses instead of using the Haj fare given by the government. Government servants who have been working for 12 years are entitled for a Haj fare.

They suggested that these government officers perform the Umrah instead of performing the Haj for a second time due to the official quota imposed last- year. "During the recent family gathering, we discussed this issue and came up with this suggestion", a caller from Rimba told the Weekend Bulletin.

In September last year, authorities in Saudi Arabia have expressed regret that they were unable to approve Brunei Darussalam's request to secure more quotas for intending Haj pilgrims for 2012.

The Sultanate was only allowed to send 400 pilgrims (or 0.1 per cent of the country's total population), as the Government of Saudi Arabia through its Haj Ministry has ordered every country including Brunei, to adhere to their official quotas.

According to the Haj Ministry of Saudi Arabia, the move to cap the number of quotas for Haj pilgrims from countries around the world was due to the increasing number of Muslim population and Haj pilgrims from Muslim countries.

Furthermore, the Haj Ministry has received many applications for additional quotas that has put a strain on facilities and places of worships in the Holy Land, especially in Masyair Mina.

Saudi Arabia is also implementing- a number of projects at Masjidil Haram and Masjid Nabawi, as well as in Masyair Mina, to enhance the capacity consultations with Saudi Arabia.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin