MECCA: The Masyair phase of the Haj, climax of the Fifth Pillar of Islam, was officially closed on Monday night with all Malaysian pilgrims in Mina safely returned to Mecca.
Datuk Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman, head of the 1438H Malaysian Haj delegation, made the announcement after the Isyak prayer at Tabung Haji (TH) headquarters in Abraj Al-Janadriyah. It was also broadcast to all TH officials in the Holy Land through their Bravo communications system.
“Alhamdulillah, the Masyair phase went well. The last bus carrying Malaysian pilgrims left Mina at 2.20pm and arrived in Mecca at 5.57pm,” he said.
Syed Saleh said TH officials conducted detailed checks at all the Mina tents, alleys and routes to the Jamrat Complex, and confirmed there were no more Malaysian pilgrims in Mina as at 3.20pm.
In total, 600 buses transported the pilgrims from Mina to Mecca, and the total operation took close to 11 hours, which was quite smooth compared to previous years.
He said the Safari Wukuf programme was also successful, with 86 patients able to participate on the Day of Arafah for about two hours using six buses and three ambulances.
“Under the Elderly Pilgrims Programme, we also successfully brought aged pilgrims from Arafah direct to Mecca without having to be in Mina using two special buses,” Syed Saleh added.
Pilgrims unable to cast pebbles at the Jamrat Complex due to health reasons can have the ritual performed on their behalf by appointed proxies.
Syed Saleh also expressed thanks to deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, Malaysian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Datuk Zainol Rahim Zainuddin; TH chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, TH managing director and CEO Datuk Seri Johan Abdullah, and TH officials for their contributions in serving Haj pilgrims.
