1,027 Muslims chosen for pilgrimage to Holy Land this year

KUCHING: A total of 1,027 Muslim pilgrims were selected for the Haj to the Holy Land this year.

These pilgrims came from Kuching ( 661), Miri (72), Sibu (56), Limbang / Lawas (22), Sri Aman (50), Sarikei (67), Bintulu (64) and Mukah (35).

Lembaga Tabung Haji state director Zaiton Mohd Yusoff revealed there are five flights this year — each flight with 160 pilgrims.

The official send- off of these pilgrims is expected to be officiated by Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and Toh Puan Raghad Kurdi Taib at the third floor of Kuching International Airport (KIA) at 10pm on July 30.

“The pilgrims from Kuching will be on the KT19Q flight,” Zaiton said in a press statement yesterday.

“And on July 31, the pilgrims from Kuching and Samarahan will be boarding KT21Q flight at 2.10am.”

On Aug 1, the KT24Q flight at 2.10am will take pilgrims from Limbang, Miri, Bintulu and Sri Aman. On Aug 2, the KT27Q flight at 2.10am will take pilgrims from Kuching and, on Aug 3, pilgrims from Sibu, Mukah and Sarikei will board flight KT29Q flight at the same time.

“This year’s domestic flights will be managed by THTS and they will use MAS operations, helping with the block booking,” she said.

She urged pilgrims to use early domestic flights from their hometown to Kuching so they can fly to the Holy Land on schedule on the same day.

All pilgrims going for the Haj are also required to report at KIA four hours ahead of departure to allow for delivery of their luggage, delivery of housing sticker, health book review, get their boarding passes and their baggage xrayed, and be handed a can of liquid aerosol each.