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Incorporated in 1962, Tabung Haji is a manifestation of the governments concern over the welfare of
Muslims in relation to their pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The journey to Kaabah, generally used to
cost lifetime savings to most Malaysian Muslims with lots of sacrifices and hardships. The economic
plight of these Muslims in general and particularly after performing the Hajj was very distressing and
has had adverse implications on the economic development and national growth. For years it
remained unnoticed until royal professor Ungku Abdul Aziz of the University of Malaya, a reputed
academician and an authority on rural economy, presented the idea of setting up the Pilgrims Saving
Corporation with a view to assist Muslims perform the pilgrimage to Mecca without impoverishing
them and sparing them from financial hardship on their return. Thus the Corporation was to provide
facilities both, to save and invest profitably.
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Malaysia Act 8, The Pilgrims Management and Fund Board 1969 (and Act A 168, The Pilgrims
Management and Fund Board (Amend.) 1973).
Revised Lembaga Tabung Haji Act 1995: Inspite of great successes, the past investment approach
of Th was at times criticized as outdated by some people and had also been of concern to leaders of
the country. Th was therefore, urged to strive forward to be not only a successful Islamic institution
promoting Hajj, but should also seek to expand and be more proactive in its investments, in line with
the countrys vision to be an industrialized nation by the year 2020.
Given that desire to modernize and also instill professionalism in the management and staff, the
Pilgrims Fund Board Act 1969 (Revised 1973) was amended and revised in 1995. Together with the
exclusion of Th from the Government Scheme of Service (SSB) and the introduction of its own
employment scheme, the amendment envisaged Th to be able to make it more productive and
innovative in its investments.
Source: Towards Islamic Banking: Experience and Challenges, Institute of Policy Studies.
Republished with permission.