Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – On February 20th, Cambodian Minister of State Osman Hassan held a formal meeting in Manila, Philippines, with Sabudin Abdulrahim, Secretary General of the National Commission for Muslim Affairs (NCMF). The two sides engaged in in-depth exchanges on topics including the development of the Muslim communities in both countries, the management of Hajj pilgrimage affairs, and cooperation in the religious field.
During the meeting, Minister Osman Hassan provided a detailed overview of the current state of the Cambodian Muslim community and conveyed the Cambodian government's high regard and positive assessment of Muslim affairs in the Philippines. He emphasized that the Cambodian government firmly guarantees freedom of religious belief and actively promotes the inclusive coexistence and harmonious development of diverse cultures.
Regarding Hajj pilgrimage affairs, Minister Osman Hassan stated that with the steady growth of Cambodia's national economy, the number of Muslims making the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is increasing year by year. In 2025, 1,200 Cambodian Muslims successfully completed the Hajj; the number of those intending to participate in the Hajj in 2026 has already exceeded 1,500. Due to Saudi Arabia's global quota restrictions on Hajj and Umrah, Cambodia's current approved quota remains at 1,200. To further meet the needs of its followers, Cambodia has formally applied to Saudi Arabia for an additional 250 Hajj slots, which are currently awaiting approval.
Sabudin Abdulrahim, Secretary General of the National Commission for Muslim Affairs (NCMF) of the Philippines, welcomed the Cambodian delegation. He explained that the Philippines has a total population of over 112 million, of which approximately 13 million are Muslims, widely distributed. As the core governing body for Muslim affairs, the NCMF's main responsibilities include organizing and coordinating Hajj, Islamic education and halal food certification, managing religious funds (Awqaf) and religious donations, and planning and managing mosques nationwide. Under the Commission's overall coordination, the Philippines expects 5,300 Muslims to complete the Hajj in Mecca in 2026.
To consolidate the meeting's outcomes and deepen practical cooperation, both sides formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on site. According to the agreement, Cambodia and the Philippines will conduct in-depth cooperation in key areas such as religious fund management, halal food standards certification, experience sharing in Hajj organization, and exchanges on religious donation practices.
The signing of this memorandum marks a new stage of institutionalized and normalized cooperation between Cambodia and the Philippines in the field of Muslim affairs, and lays a solid foundation for future exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in broader areas such as religion and culture.
