TH AIMS FOR SHORTER ARRIVAL PROCESS
It is confident of cutting 1-hour arrival process down to half an hour or less
THE new fast-track immigration system this year for Malaysian haj pilgrims has resulted in a faster arrival process here, but Tabung Haji (TH) aims to shorten this further.
The arrival process this year for pilgrims — from disembarkation to boarding the bus to the hotel — is already a record one hour, but TH is confident it can cut this down to half an hour or less.
TH terminal manager here Mohd Razali Zakaria said it was possible, with improvements such as sending off buses which had been filled with pilgrims to the hotel first instead of having all buses departing simultaneously.
“We have achieved a 45-minute arrival process for one flight out of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
“We want to shorten it to half an hour or less, especially for morning flights so that pilgrims will not be exposed too long to the heat.
“Our aim is to sort out pilgrims' baggage as fast as possible without incurring any damage,” he said at Al Haram Hotel here.
In previous years, the arrival process took four hours.
Under Saudi Arabia’s Mecca Road initiative, Malaysia is the first country accorded the privilege of pre-clearance, with immigration processes completed at KLIA.
Under the initiative, fingerprints are taken and passports are stamped at the pilgrims’ country of departure and their entry into Saudi Arabia is treated like a domestic flight.
All pilgrims have to do upon their arrival here is to have their luggage scanned before boarding buses to the hotel.
Razali said Indonesia would also be given this privilege.
As of Tuesday, some 4,000 Malaysian pilgrims have arrived in Madinah on eight flights.
Razali thanked the Saudi authorities for their commitment in helping ensure the initiative was a success.
“Their agents are with us all the way to assist in any way they can.
“They will provide extra buses if required or aid for the disabled. There are facilities at the waiting area, such as toilets and surau for pilgrims.
“The Saudi authorities are continually getting feedback from us to ensure things run smoothly in future.”
Malaysian ambassador to Saudi Arabia Datuk Zainol Rahim Zainuddin had said the initiative was testament of Malaysia’s close relationship with the Saudi government and the discipline of pilgrims in the past.
“Our pilgrims are well known for their good behaviour and discipline.
“I hope this will continue so that our reputation and image can be safeguarded.”