PATROL UNIT ENSURES NO ONE IS LOST
It was set up to make sure pilgrims are safe
CASES of lost Malaysian pilgrims used to be rife around the vicinity of the Grand Mosque here, but not anymore with the establishment of a patrol unit by Tabung Haji (TH), the first of its kind set up to ensure the security of pilgrims.
It is difficult to miss the members of the patrol unit as they stand out in their red caps and Tshirts among a sea of people largely dressed in white or black.
Team members, who are on duty round the clock, need to pass a physical and mental test to ensure that they are able to withstand the long hours and searing heat.
They comprise members from the police force, the army’s religious corp and TH’s auxiliary police.
TH patrol unit head Inspector Abdullah Jauhari said it was not just lost pilgrims that team members had to locate or help out, but also any situation that affected the safety of pilgrims.
“During the 2015 crane collapse at the Grand Mosque, team members helped pull out the injured and dead from the rubble,” said Abdullah, who was on duty that fateful day. Seven Malaysians died in that incident.
He said the patrol unit, comprising 18 members, was on duty at eight locations around the Grand Mosque 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“We have three shifts — from 7am to 2pm, 2pm to 10pm and 10pm to 7am the next day.
“There are nine personnel for every shift. We communicate via the Bravo walkie-talkie system.
“Some have been here before, but most have not.”
He said with pilgrims trickling in, the number of those lost averaged 10 a day. The total number of Malaysian pilgrims this year is 30,200.
“I would like to urge our pilgrims to get familiar with all the entrances to the mosque and to move around in groups.”
Squad member Mazalan Salleh said one of his most memorable cases was when he received a report of a lost pilgrim who had not returned to his room for two days.
“One of his roommates lodged a report with the customer service centre. Everyone was alarmed.
“We found him in the Grand Mosque. He was so focused on his prayers and the surroundings that he did not want to leave.
“That was not a problem, but he should have informed his roommate.”
Another squad member, Anuar Hamzah, said although his task was sometimes gruelling, the exhaustion would dissipate when he thought of the pilgrims who needed his help.
“Sometimes, it is not just our pilgrims who approach us for help, but also those from other countries.”
He said most lost pilgrims were women.