Hajj Corporation: Minister responds to Shaheem’s anger

Since the inception of Maldives Hajj Corporation, half of the Hajj quota for Maldivian pilgrims goes to the corporation. But a recent regulatory amendment has transferred the authority to determine the percentage of the quota which goes to Maldives Hajj Corporation to the Minister of Islamic Affairs.

Chancellor of Islamic University of Maldives (IUM), Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed spoke in an interview with “Sun” regarding the amendment this Thursday morning.

Shaheem alleges the move was influenced by local private organizations who escort pilgrims, he said the organizations had connections to officials within Ministry of Islamic Affairs.

Shaheem also alleged that the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Ahmed Ziyad Bagir was trying to obliterate Maldives Hajj Corporation.

“I believe this is happening unbeknownst to the President. As a former Cabinet minister, I know what the policy of the President and the government is,” said Shaheem, who was President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s first Minister of Islamic Affairs.

Shaheem said that Maldives Hajj Corporation was very well-run, and that he won’t stand by any effort to destroy it.

He said that it had been Maldives Hajj Corporation which had come to the aid of the pilgrims who had been swindled by private organizations in the past.

In response to the allegation, Minister Ziyad said the regulatory change was not brought on by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs but by legal authorities.

He said the ministry will provide 50 percent of the quota to Maldives Hajj Corporation as usual.

“Hajj Corporation will be dealt with the same as last year. Hajj Corporation will be exempt from having to submit a proposal,” said Ziyad.

16 private organizations have applied to escort pilgrims of hajj this year. The proposals are under review.