UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh described receiving an offer to perform the Hajj as one of the most meaningful moments of his life, coming shortly after he sacrificed his own pilgrimage savings to help save a critically ill Malaysian child.
Dr Akmal shared that he had been selected to perform the Hajj after receiving an official offer letter from Lembaga Tabung Haji, dated January 12, 2026. The news arrived at a time when he had already resigned himself to missing the pilgrimage, having earlier diverted his savings for a humanitarian cause.
Originally, Dr Akmal and his wife were scheduled to perform the Hajj in late 2025. However, he decided to put those plans aside after learning of a young girl in urgent need of life-saving surgery. The RM120,000 he had set aside for the pilgrimage was instead donated to fund the medical procedure, with Dr Akmal explaining that preserving a child’s life took precedence over fulfilling his personal plans.
According to his account, the decision was not an easy one, but it was made with full conviction. He later travelled to China to personally visit the child and her family, where the surgery was carried out. The operation was performed by a surgeon from Johor, a coincidence he viewed as deeply meaningful.
The unexpected Hajj offer left Dr Akmal visibly emotional. He said the moment served as a reminder that sacrifices made with sincerity do not go unnoticed. Overwhelmed by the news, he contacted his mother to share the development. During the call, he was reminded to remain patient and steadfast, with his mother expressing pride in the choices he had made and affirming her belief that her son had acted with compassion and integrity.
Dr Akmal described the opportunity to perform the Hajj as a profound blessing that arrived during a period of personal and public испытание. He reflected that when he felt there was nothing more he could do, the opportunity came in a way he never anticipated, reinforcing his belief in perseverance and faith.
At the same time, the UMNO Youth leader continues to face legal challenges. He is currently defending himself in a RM25 million defamation suit filed by Seputeh Member of Parliament Teresa Kok. Dr Akmal has maintained that his actions and statements were never intended as personal attacks, but rather as expressions of concern over issues he believes cannot be ignored.
Despite the pressures surrounding him, Dr Akmal said the Hajj offer served as a powerful reminder of purpose and humility. He added that the experience strengthened his resolve to continue serving with sincerity, guided by faith, compassion and a sense of responsibility to others.
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