Million spent for 5-member Hajj delegation
The minister said that the corporation had spent MVR 69.3 million for the entire trip.
MVR 1 million was spent on the five officials who went on the Maldives Hajj mission this year, according to statistics Islamic ministry shared with the parliament.
Maafannu Central MP Ibrahim Rasheed has sought written responses from the Islamic ministry regarding the expenses of this year's Hajj pilgrimage. The two questions were:
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Number of people sent to the Maldives to work in the mission set up in Mecca at the ministry's expense and the expenditure incurred on them from the state budget
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Details of the expenses incurred by the Hajj Corporation on the pilgrims
On October 4, Islamic minister Dr Ali Zahir gave details of the expenses incurred by the Hajj mission. The letter, signed by Zahir, stated that only five people had gone on behalf of the ministry for the Hajj mission. The total expenditure incurred on them in 48 days was MVR 1.08 million, the minister said in the letter.
Details of expenses incurred on the five officials:
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Air fare – MVR 148,279
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Food and accommodation – MVR 762,368
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Pocket money - MVR 12,028
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Incidentals - MVR 154,200
Hajj Corporation spent MVR 69 million
In a second letter dated October 24 to answer MP Rasheed's second question, the minister said that the corporation had spent MVR 69.3 million for the entire trip. This amounts to MVR 166,198 each for 417 pilgrims who went for Hajj.
Expenses incurred by the Hajj Corporation:
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Mecca hotel expenses: MVR 39.7 million (for 23 days)
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Medina hotel expenses: MVR 1.8 million (for two days)
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Expenditure incurred on guides: MVR 10.6 million
The minister pointed out that no expenditure was made from the state budget for the Hajj.
