Saudi Arabia has already agreed to allow some 11,000 Thai pilgrims to perform the Hajj between late this month and early January, the Religious Affairs Department said.

But Thailand needed permission for an extra 1,400 pilgrims as there were excess applications this year, an official at the department said. The department has asked the Thai Embassy in Riyadh to negotiate for additional places.

The embassy has yet to conclude negotiations with authorities in Riyadh.

State-run television Channel 9 reported earlier that Bangkok received approval from Riyadh for 1,400 more pilgrims to Mecca this year.

An official at the Thai Embassy rejected the report, saying the extra quota is still being negotiated and it was hard to predict the outcome.

The news mix-up appears to stem from an inconsistent stance, as the Thai National Hajj Committee decided on October 10 to withdraw the request for the extra quota of 1,400 pilgrims. The decision was conveyed to Riyadh, but concerned agencies and many Muslims were not happy with the decision and planned to protest.

Departmental officials told Hajj operators in a meeting on Monday the authorities had changed their mind and would seek for additional quota.

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

 The Nation.