PLOTS OF LAND IDENTIFIED
Chairman, board members to travel to Mecca on Aug 12 to inspect land
LEMBAGA Tabung Haji (TH) has identified several plots of land for the construction of its complexes in Mecca and Madinah in Saudi Arabia.
Its chairman, Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, said he and other members of TH board of directors would travel to Mecca on Aug 12 to inspect the plots of land.
“Saudi Arabia has offered the Malaysian government several plots of land for the purpose.
“Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom went there recently to see the land, but we need to go again to look for plots of land that are suitable for the construction of the complexes.
“We hope the complexes will provide better services to Malaysian pilgrims, especially during the haj season,” Azeez, who is also an Umno Supreme Council member, said after opening Rantau Panjang Umno’s Wanita, Puteri and Youth delegates’ meeting at Kolej Kemahiran Mara in Lubok Jong here yesterday.
He expressed hoped that the TH complexes in Mecca and Madinah would reduce the expenses of Malaysian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
He said about RM200 million was spent by the Malaysian government annually to pay for the pilgrims’ accommodations and other necessities in the Holy Land.
Azeez said TH hoped the agreement for the project would be finalised before the end of the year, and that the complexes would be completed within the next few years.
He thanked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for mooting the idea to set up the TH complexes in Mecca and Madinah.
“The prime minister discussed the idea with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Abdulaziz Al Saud during the king’s official visit to Malaysia in March.
“Praise be to God, we will soon have our own complexes complete with all the necessities, including food catering,” said Azeez.
Earlier in his opening speech, Azeez, who is Baling member of parliament, warned Umno members not to practise the culture of fractional politics or cah keting as the party prepared for the 14th General Election (GE14).
“Members should put aside their grievances and work towards ensuring Barisan Nasional’s victory in GE14.
“I am confident Umno members in Rantau Panjang will win the parliamentary and three state seats in the election.”