First Group Of Pilgrims Arrive Saudi Arabia For Hajj [Malaysian and Indonesian]

First groups of Haj pilgrims arrive from Malaysia and Indonesia

The first groups of Malaysian and Indonesian Haj pilgrims arrived in Madinah and Jeddah.

A total of 450 Malaysian pilgrims were welcomed by Malaysian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Syed Omar Syed Mohamad Al-Saggaf; Malaysian Consul General in Jeddah Mohd Khalid Abbasi Abdul Razak; Deputy Head of the Malaysian Haj Delegation Tengku Aziz Raja Abdullah; and Head of Muassasah Adila Dr. Yusuf Ahmad Hawala.


At a press conference with Saudi and Malaysian journalists, Al-Saggaf thanked the Saudi government for the “excellent arrangements” made to assist Allah’s guests.

He said the Saudi Arabian government had great respect for Malaysian pilgrims because of their discipline. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah had expressed this view recently during a meeting with him, he said.

Al-Saggaf advised Malaysian pilgrims “to protect Malaysia’s good name and image by adhering to all the rules and regulations set out by the Saudi Arabian government.”

Abdul Razak said 22,320 Malaysian pilgrims traveling on 64 flights would perform Haj this year, which marked a 20 percent reduction from last year. A total of 33 flights would land in Madinah and 31 in Jeddah.

He praised Saudi Arabia’s preparations despite the major expansion under way and was “confident” Malaysia's quota would return to normal in the next “two or three years.”

He advised all pilgrims to drink fluids and keep in good health so they are able to complete their Haj rituals.

Abdul Razak said the Malaysian government was constantly improving its facilities for Haj pilgrims. This includes its own fully staffed 24-hour hospital and medical centers in Makkah and Madinah and a field hospital covering Arafat and Mina. He said the consulate was working with the Haj organizers to ensure pilgrims “attain a complete Haj.”

Meanwhile, 450 Indonesian pilgrims who arrived in Madinah Tuesday, were welcomed by Indonesian officials including Nur Ibrahim, the vice consul for information.

Another flight arrived at Jeddah airport carrying 369 pilgrims from Padang. Ibrahim said pilgrims would arrive from 12 Indonesian cities. The last flight would arrive on Oct. 10.

Ibrahim told Arab News 168,800 Indonesian pilgrims would perform Haj this year. There would be 155,200 regular pilgrims and 13,600 special pilgrims.

About 800 Haj officials would be recruited in Indonesia and others hired locally to help pilgrims. The helpers include Indonesian students who can speak Arabic.

He said two medical camps with doctors and medical equipment would be set up in Makkah. In Madinah, the medical camp would be about 400 meters from the Prophet’s Mosque.