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A file picture of Muslims perform Friday prayers at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, with social distancing in place on Feb 26,2021. - Reuters
PETALING JAYA: The sacking of Saudi Arabia s Minister of Haj and Umrah is not linked with Malaysia s recent increased haj quota, according to a diplomatic source.
According to a source close to the matter, only Saudi Arabia s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, who is also the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has the sole authority to make decisions on the haj quota. The Haj and Umrah Minister has no authority to determine the haj quota to any country including Malaysia.
In this file photo Saudi Haj Minister Mohammed Benten speaks during a virtual news conference, following the outbreak of Covid-19, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on June 23, 2020. Reuters
LONDON: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman dismissed Mohamed Benten as minister for the Haj and Umrah, a position with a leading role in organising Islam’s annual pilgrimage, a royal decree carried by state news agency
(SPA) said on Friday.
State minister, Issam ben Saeed, was appointed acting minister.
Haj and Umrah, which generated billions of dollars each year before the pandemic, is a major source of income for the Saudi government.
“Mohammed Saleh ben Taher Benten, Minister of Haj and Umrah shall be relieved form his position,” SPA said in a tweet, without giving reasons behind the decision. Benten was appointed minister in 2016.
Saudi Arabia's King Salman dismissed Mohamed Benten as minister for the haj and umrah, a position with a leading role in organising Islam's annual pilgrimage, a royal decree carried by state news agency (SPA) said on Friday.