SEPANG: The first batch of 295 haj pilgrims will leave for the Holy Land at 1.35pm today to Madinah, and is expected to arrive at 4.55pm Saudi Arabia time today.
This is the first of 48 flights, ferrying 14,306 Malaysian pilgrims to fulfill the fifth pillar of Islam.
It is also the first haj trip for Malaysians in two years, after Saudi Arabia barred Muslims outside the kingdom from performing the haj in 2020 and 2021 to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who was present at the sending-off ceremony, prayed that all pilgrims performed their haj calmly and safely, and return home with an mabrur haj (accepted haj).
"As one Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family), I call upon haj pilgrims performing the fifth pillar of Islam to pray that Malaysia continues to succeed, stays peaceful with economic prosperity and the lasting wellbeing of the people," he said.
Also present were Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Idris Ahmad, and Tabung Haji chief executive officer Datuk Seri Amrin Awaluddin.