MAKKAH: As of yesterday, 5,790 out of 31,600 pilgrims selected to perform the haj this year have safely arrived in Makkah and Medina via 22 flights specially chartered by Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH).
Malaysian haj delegation head Datuk Seri Syed Salleh Syed Abdul Rahman said of that number, 4,403 pilgrims are now in Madinah, while 1,387 pilgrims have been in Makkah since May 14.
"Alhamdulillah, the haj operation for this season, which started on May 9, is running well and smoothly, both in Malaysia and in the Holy Land
"Pilgrims on KT1 to KT5, currently in Makkah, have also performed the umrah pilgrimage and TH has arranged various activities for them as they await the day of wukuf at Arafah (on June 15)," he said in a press conference with media personnel at the TH headquarters here yesterday.
According to him, a total of 100 special chartered flights would be used to carry all Malaysian pilgrims, with 47 slated for Madinah and 53 for Jeddah, where the pilgrims will be taken directly to Makkah.
Eight departure stations will be used for self-reporting by pilgrims throughout Malaysia, namely Kota Baru, Kelantan; Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu; Alor Setar, Kedah; Bayan Lepas, Penang; Senai, Johor; Kuching, Sarawak; Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Meanwhile, a total of 301 pilgrims from the KT08 group arrived at Makkah Hotel Land Perium from Madinah via seven buses last night.
They were welcomed by Syed Saleh, deputy head of the Malaysian haj group (charity) Mohamed Heikal Mohamed Yusuff, TH management and hotel staff.
In another development, Syed Saleh said that five Malaysian pilgrims are currently under medical care, with four of them receiving treatment at the Madinah Treatment Centre and one at the Shiisya Treatment Centre in Makkah.
He said two pilgrims suffered fractures in their hands and big toes, while the others are experiencing heart issues and bacterial infections.
As such, Syed Saleh advised the pilgrims to take good care of their health and exercise caution in their daily routines to ensure the smooth execution of pilgrimage activities until their return to Malaysia. –BERNAMA
