First group of Malaysian Haj pilgrims set to enter Makkah on May 4
MADINAH: The movement of the first group of 284 Malaysian pilgrims for the 1446H/2025 haj season into Makkah will begin in stages, starting May 4.
Tabung Haji (TH) Zone Two manager in Madinah, Shahidan Ishak said that to ensure a smooth and orderly movement, pilgrims will attend a briefing session conducted by TH staff a day before they depart for Makkah.
"We will provide a preparatory briefing to ensure pilgrims fully understand and comply with all requirements before setting off, including donning the ihram and making other essential preparations,' he told the Malaysian media here.
He said the briefing will include important information such as the time and location for making the ihram intention (niat).
"For instance, pilgrims will only make their ihram intention upon reaching the Miqat at Bir Ali before continuing their journey to Makkah for the umrah (minor haj) rituals,' Shahidan explained.
To further assist pilgrims, he said TH has also set up guidance and visitation counters at its Madinah Operations Office, offering information and support related to haj and umrah rituals.
Meanwhile, Shahidan said that in addition to logistical preparations, a total of 13 staff members, comprising eight general haj officers and five religious guides from the Pembimbing Ibadat Haji Tanah Suci (Pihtas) team, have been stationed in Zone Two in Madinah to ensure smooth operations and effective management of pilgrims this year.
Nevertheless, he said all pilgrims are reminded to wear their identification tags and wristbands at all times to facilitate tracking and ensure their safety throughout their stay in the Holy Land.
"To keep pilgrims well-informed, updates and important announcements will be shared continuously through official WhatsApp groups and bulletin boards placed around the hotel premises,' he said.
Shahidan said various facilities have also been made available to pilgrims in Zone Two, including customer service counters, Bank Islam service points, baggage handling assistance, and prepaid SIM card registration counters.
For this year's haj season, TH has arranged accommodation across three buildings in Madinah. Pilgrims in Zone One are housed at the Anwar Al Madinah Movenpick and Saja Al Madinah hotels, while those in Zone Two are accommodated at the Emaar Royal Hotel Madinah.
Out of the 632 Tabung Haji personnel deployed this season, 122 are stationed in Madinah to ensure that all services and rituals for the Duyufurrahman (guests of the Most Merciful) run smoothly and efficiently. - Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
Pilgrims performing nafar awal to depart Mina for Makkah starting tomorrow morning
MINA: Around half of Malaysian pilgrims undertaking nafar awal or the early departure permitted during the haj, are set to leave Mina for Makkah on tomorrow morning in a move aimed at easing congestion. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar said those departing had completed four of the six core rites of the pilgrimage and would begin leaving as early as 6.30 am. 'The first group, comprising 50 per cent of the pilgrims, will return to Makkah. This will help Tabung Haji manage logistics more effectively,' he told reporters after visiting the Malaysian pilgrims' tents here today. Mohd Na'im also reminded pilgrims to observe the designated 'lockdown' period, from 10 am to 4 pm, to avoid prolonged exposure to the extreme heat. He further advised pilgrims to adhere to all instructions and health advisories issued by the medical and religious teams for their safety and well-being. Meanwhile, the minister expressed appreciation for the high levels of cleanliness and discipline shown by Malaysian pilgrims throughout their time in Arafah, Muzdalifah and Mina. 'At both Arafah and Muzdalifah, I found our camps to be very clean. This reflects our pilgrims' strong understanding of the importance of maintaining cleanliness and upholding noble conduct as part of the haj rituals,' he said. As of yesterday (10 Zulhijjah), all Malaysian pilgrims had safely arrived in Mina, with nearly all having completed the stoning ritual at Jamrah Kubra, one of the compulsory rites of haj, followed by tahallul awal, which involves shaving or cutting at least three strands of hair.
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
Half of Malaysian haj pilgrims to leave Mina early tomorrow
MINA: Around half of Malaysian pilgrims undertaking nafar awal or the early departure permitted during the haj, are set to leave Mina for Makkah on tomorrow morning in a move aimed at easing congestion. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar said those departing had completed four of the six core rites of the pilgrimage and would begin leaving as early as 6.30 am. 'The first group, comprising 50 per cent of the pilgrims, will return to Makkah. This will help Tabung Haji manage logistics more effectively,' he told reporters after visiting the Malaysian pilgrims' tents here today. Mohd Na'im also reminded pilgrims to observe the designated 'lockdown' period, from 10 am to 4 pm, to avoid prolonged exposure to the extreme heat. He further advised pilgrims to adhere to all instructions and health advisories issued by the medical and religious teams for their safety and well-being. Meanwhile, the minister expressed appreciation for the high levels of cleanliness and discipline shown by Malaysian pilgrims throughout their time in Arafah, Muzdalifah and Mina. 'At both Arafah and Muzdalifah, I found our camps to be very clean. This reflects our pilgrims' strong understanding of the importance of maintaining cleanliness and upholding noble conduct as part of the haj rituals,' he said. As of yesterday (10 Zulhijjah), all Malaysian pilgrims had safely arrived in Mina, with nearly all having completed the stoning ritual at Jamrah Kubra, one of the compulsory rites of haj, followed by tahallul awal, which involves shaving or cutting at least three strands of hair.
The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
'LRT staff polite' - M'sian praises public transport
A Malaysian commuter recently took to TikTok to sing praises for RapidKL's public transport system — but with a twist. While she lauded its affordability and convenience, she also called out a striking difference in staff attitudes between the MRT and LRT lines. In her now-viral video, she shared how she politely asked an MRT staff member about a day pass, only to be met with a tired, unfriendly expression and zero smiles. 'I just asked nicely about a day pass and got no smile at all,' she said. ALSO READ: American raves about MRT in KL, says its 'well-maintained' But on the flip side, she said the LRT staff were 'super friendly and polite — they even say 'enjoy your trip'!' Despite the cold reception from the MRT staff, she made it clear she still enjoys using RapidKL's services. 'It's easy, affordable, and fun. Love you, RapidKL,' she concluded. The post sparked a lively online discussion as fellow Malaysians shared their own experiences. One user recounted a frustrating encounter at LRT Bandaraya when trying to top up her MY50 card. The system kept hanging, and a staff member loudly blamed her IC for 'messing up the system.' The next day, topping up went smoothly. READ MORE: 'Brilliant' - Tourist praises KL's public transport for its reusable token system Another commented, 'True! I've asked for a daily pass at the MRT before and it's super rare to see a smile. Their faces always look so exhausted.' Yet, not all stories were negative. One commuter shared a heartwarming experience: 'My husband once left his wallet on the MRT at Cyberjaya. We thought it was lost for good. We rushed to MRT Titiwangsa and the staff were incredibly kind — they checked their WhatsApp group, made calls, and helped us find it. Without their help, we probably wouldn't have gotten the wallet back. Forever grateful.'
