Arrangement to send haj pilgrims progressing smoothly
KUCHING: The arrangement to send haj pilgrims from the state to Medina – the gateway to Mecca, home of the Holy Kaabah – is progressing smoothly.
The second batch of 160 pilgrims departed for Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) from Kuching International Airport ( KIA) at 2.20am yesterday.
According to Lembaga Tabung Haji ( TH) state director Zaitun Mohd Yusuf, the first batch left for KLIA on Sunday, while the remaining pilgrims would catch their flights today and tomorrow.
“God willing, all the process would continue smoothly. So far, the movement of our (Sarawak) pilgrims to Medina has encountered no problems,” said Zaitun when met at the send- off at KIA on Monday night.
On the total number of pilgrims from Sarawak, she said her side had yet to have the final figure, in that there might be those who did not show up, or had medical issues.
“For the present batch, it seems that all of them have been accounted for,” she said, adding that the next two trips would accommodate the pilgrims from Limbang, Bintulu, Sibu, Miri and Sri Aman.
“The majority of them are currently staying at a hotel in Kuching. TH will make all the arrangements once their flights receive the greenlight for takeoff.” It is estimated that 1,100 out of 30,200 Malaysian haj pilgrims this year are from Sarawak.