MAKKAH: With the first batch of Malaysian haj pilgrims arriving here this Sunday, Tabung Haji (TH) is putting the finishing touches to its preparations to ensure they can perform the fifth pillar of Islam comfortably among the close to three million others from around the world.
The planning is elaborate with very close attention paid to details.
Accommodation and service centres for pilgrims here have been set up, with all commencing full operations this Sunday with the arrival of the first batch of 483 Malaysian pilgrims from Madinah at about 11pm local time.
These pilgrims had arrived in Madinah from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on July 14.
They will travel for about four hours to Makkah by bus. All pilgrims in Madinah will make their way here in batches. There will also be those flying in direct from KLIA to Jeddah from July 28. This group will immediately head here.
Deputy head (pilgrims’ welfare) of the 1439H Malaysian haj season Nurrin Anuwar Shamsuddin, in a briefing to Malaysian media here, said pilgrims would be placed in their respective maktab which will be headed by a manager.
Overall, there will be 12 maktab occupying a total of 18 apartment buildings. The apartments are placed within four zones.
"The largest building Albraj al-Janadiyah, which also houses the TH headquarters in Makkah, has a 6,000 person capacity and will be accomodating pilgrims from two maktab as well as TH personnel.
"The pilgrims in one maktab will be managed by about eight personnel, including medical team members and haj guides."
Malaysia's haj quota for this year is 30,200 pilgrims.
Nurrin Anuwar said religious counselling services as well as financial counters for cash withdrawals, and medical services would be available for pilgrims.
"They will be provided two meals a day - lunch and dinner - as well as a supply of coffee and tea."
He explained that each pilgrim would have their own bed in three to seven bedded rooms, with men separated from women.
He advised pilgrims to take care of their health as temperatures were over 40 degrees Celsius here, and to seek out counsellors should they have problems adapting.
"Some will experience emotional issues as this will be their first time abroad. We will visit the pilgrims in their rooms to give them support."
Nurrin Anuwar said at the height of the haj season, there would be 700 TH officers overall on duty.