New Saudi rules for haj pilgrims

PASIR GUDANG: More than 23,000 Malaysian haj pilgrims will be required to give biometric prints of their fingers and thumbs under the Saudi government’s beefed up security measures in the wake of recent terror attacks in the kingdom.

Lembaga Tabung Haji chief operating officer Datuk Adi Azuan Abdul Ghani said the procedure was mandatory for pilgrims performing the haj this year.

“We ((LTH) ) received word of the new regulation requiring pilgrims from all countries to have bio(metric) prints of all 10 fingers taken. Previously, they gave their thumb (print)s,” said Adi Azuan after the Johor-level Perdana Haj Course organised by LTH at Pasir Gudang Municipal Council Stadium here.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin launched the event.

Adi Azuan said the move was to ensure the safety of pilgrims, including the 22,320 Malaysian pilgrims who will fly to the kingdom in batches, beginning Aug 4.

He said communication lines were established between LTH and the Malaysian Consulate General in Jeddah.

On July 5, a string of three attacks occurred in Saudi Arabia, including a suicide bomb attack in the compound of the Prophet Muhammad’s Mosque in Medina that left four security officers dead and five injured.

Khaled said LTH has made it possible for Malaysians to perform their haj through subsidised fees.

He said the state government sponsored 152 pilgrims from Johor this year.