PILGRIMS OFFER FREE SERVICES
Malaysian haj pilgrims join ‘Sahabat Maktab’ to help fellow pilgrims
TABUNG Haji’s (TH) Sahabat Maktab programme, introduced in 2006, continues to see encouraging response from Malaysian haj pilgrims who volunteer to help manage the welfare of their fellow pilgrims.
The 320 men and women, who made up this year’s Sahabat Maktab squad, volunteered their services with no expectation of payment or reward, other than Allah’s blessings, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said here.
“The reward for assisting the ‘dhuyufurrahman’ (Allah’s guests) with sincerity is of high value. We appreciate those who have accepted (the responsibility) and are willing to take on the (role),” he said before presenting Sahabat Maktab vests to 36 volunteers from Maktab 81 at Abraj Al-Fadhilah Hotel here on Friday.
Asyraf said some of the volunteers specialised as Sahabat Medik or Sahabat Ibadat, depending on their expertise.
“Sahabat Ibadat might help out by being imam or bilal, while Sahabat Medik can provide medical assistance or advice.”
Thirty-six volunteers will assist TH in managing 2,673 haj pilgrims from Maktab 81.
“It is not an easy task for 600 TH officers to look after 30,200 haj pilgrims’ comfort, safety, welfare and health. That is why we need volunteers,” said Asyraf.
One of the volunteers, Dr Nor Azah Mohamad Nawi from Kedah, said as a former TH officer, she was familiar with medical issues faced by pilgrims.
“I was part of the TH medical team in 2009 and 2010. Now, I come as a pilgrim, and have offered my services,” said the specialist in family medicine.
She said as she did not bring any medical equipment, she could only contribute her advice and recommend medical treatment for pilgrims.
Earlier, Asyraf told pilgrims to remind each other that taking care of their health these last few days before wukuf (on Thursday) was very important.
“Some pilgrims are busy chasing umrah (which is not compulsory for haj). They are always in fifth gear, but could lose steam later when it matters. In wukuf, the critical time is the few hours between zohor and maghrib. We don’t want to be worn out at the time when our prayers and supplications are most likely to be accepted.”