14,000 pilgrims arrived in Mecca in good health
MECCA: More than 46 per cent of Malaysian pilgrims for this year’s haj season have arrived in Saudi Arabia, deputy head (pilgrim welfare) of the 1438H haj season Nurrin Anuwar Shamsuddin said.
He said as of Wednesday, some 14,000 Malaysian pilgrims had arrived in the Holy Land, with 10,900 in Medina and the rest in Mecca. Malaysia’s haj quota for this year is 30,200 pilgrims.
“Those in Medina have started entering Mecca from Aug 1, beginning with flight KT01, which arrived in Medina on July 24,” Nurrin Anuwar said.
Pilgrims who arrive in Mecca must first perform the umrah, after which they are free from their state of ihram and can wear normal clothes. During this period, they will continue with religious worship in preparation for wukuf in Arafah, tentatively scheduled for Aug 31.
“We have prepared programmes and briefings for the pilgrims at their respective maktab.
“There are eight modules on religious guidance, four modules for administrative matters and one module on health,” Nurrin Anuwar said.
He said so far, Malaysian pilgrims were in good health, with less than 10 pilgrims undergoing treatment at the medical centres in Medina for fatigue and fever.
There are no medical cases reported in Mecca, yet.
“Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), our pilgrims are taking good care of their health.”
A total of 110 flights have been scheduled to ferry Malaysian pilgrims for this year’s haj season, with 46 landing in Medina and 64 in Jeddah. So far, 37 flights have arrived, with 29 in Medina and eight in Jeddah.
Meanwhile, Tabung Haji officers are almost at full strength with 565 of the overall 600 already operating in Jeddah, Medina and Mecca.
Nurrin Anuwar said the rest would be arriving this week.