Latest news with #KualaLumpurInternationalAirport
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
'He loved diving': Father mourns son's death in Aceh accident
KUALA LUMPUR: The father of Haikal Rafie Halim, who died in a diving accident off the coast of Iboih in Kota Sabang, Aceh, Indonesia, yesterday, said his son had always been passionate about the activity and never imagined it would one day cost him his life. Haikal's father, Halim Abu Hassan, said his son loved diving and had explored many locations with his friends and wife. "However, we never expected that this time it would end in tragedy," he said when contacted. Halim said his 33-year-old son had travelled to Aceh last Thursday with his wife and a group of 10 friends, and had sent a photo from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport before departing. "They also called my wife, and we had the chance to exchange well wishes before they arrived. "Once they reached Aceh, my daughter-in-law sent us photos and made a video call from the chalet. But my son was mostly quiet during the call, and it was my daughter-in-law who chatted with us at length." He added that his son had often gone diving at locations including Pulau Tioman, Pulau Redang, Pulau Perhentian, and several other places. "I only found out about the incident at around 1.30pm yesterday after one of his friends called to inform us. "As for what exactly happened, I'm still unsure. My daughter-in-law is still too shaken to speak about it," he said. Halim said his son's remains will be brought home this evening and will be laid to rest at the Kampung Melayu Rasa Cemetery in Rasa, Hulu Selangor. Haikal was reported to have died while diving off Iboih at around 9.30am local time, accompanied by two Malaysian friends and a diving instructor. Indonesia's Berita Rakyat Aceh news portal reported that police responded promptly to the scene after receiving the report. The report said that after 20 minutes of diving at a depth of 30 metres, the group was swept away by an underwater current. Haikal reportedly attempted to ascend following the instructor's orders but lost consciousness upon reaching the surface. Rescue efforts were immediately carried out, and the victim was rushed by speedboat to Iboih Beach. His friends and the instructor administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before taking him by car to a nearby clinic. Upon arriving at the clinic at around 10.30am local time, medical personnel provided immediate treatment, but Haikal was pronounced dead.
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Over 90% of Malaysian haj pilgrims have reached Holy Land
SEPANG: Over 90 per cent of Malaysian pilgrims have safely reached the Holy Land so far via 98 flights departing from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), says Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar. Mohd Na'im said that today he would be joining 284 pilgrims, along with Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, to perform the fifth pillar of Islam for the 1446H/2025 season. 'We only have about two thousand pilgrims remaining. This means that out of 31,600 pilgrims, almost 30,000 are already in the Holy Land,' he told reporters before departing here. Earlier, Mohd Na'im and Shamsul Azri greeted Malaysian pilgrims departing this evening on flight MH8192. The Saudi Arabian government has approved a Haj quota of 31,600 for Malaysian pilgrims this season. The first flight carrying Malaysian pilgrims left on April 29, while the last flight is scheduled for June 1, with the Day of Arafah (Wukuf), which is the 9th of Zulhijjah, falling on Thursday, June 5. Sharing his programme while in the Holy Land, he said various activities had been arranged by Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH), including visiting TH headquarters in Makkah and Madinah, attending the 49th Grand Haj Symposium, and holding an official meeting with Saudi Arabian Minister of Haj and Umrah Dr Tawfiq Fawzan Al-Rabiah. 'This symposium is held annually during the Haj season, where all Haj ministers convene to discuss and resolve any issues related to Haj matters,' he said. He also advised Malaysian pilgrims to always take care of their health while performing Haj, especially during wukuf. 'I hope our pilgrims stay well-hydrated and remain at their accommodations unless there is a need to go out, as we are concerned about health risks from overexposure to the heat,' he said. Expressing his appreciation to TH haj officials and media personnel, Mohd Na'im said they had performed their duties well and carried out their entrusted responsibilities for the smooth running of this season's haj pilgrimage. 'Each of you has played your role. TH greatly appreciates the contribution of media personnel in disseminating information, especially updates from the Holy Land,' he added.
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Over 90% of Malaysian haj pilgrims have reached Holy Land - Mohd Na'im
SEPANG: Over 90 per cent of Malaysian pilgrims have safely reached the Holy Land so far via 98 flights departing from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), says Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar. Mohd Na'im said that today he would be joining 284 pilgrims, along with Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, to perform the fifth pillar of Islam for the 1446H/2025 season. 'We only have about two thousand pilgrims remaining. This means that out of 31,600 pilgrims, almost 30,000 are already in the Holy Land,' he told reporters before departing here. Earlier, Mohd Na'im and Shamsul Azri greeted Malaysian pilgrims departing this evening on flight MH8192. The Saudi Arabian government has approved a Haj quota of 31,600 for Malaysian pilgrims this season. The first flight carrying Malaysian pilgrims left on April 29, while the last flight is scheduled for June 1, with the Day of Arafah (Wukuf), which is the 9th of Zulhijjah, falling on Thursday, June 5. Sharing his programme while in the Holy Land, he said various activities had been arranged by Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH), including visiting TH headquarters in Makkah and Madinah, attending the 49th Grand Haj Symposium, and holding an official meeting with Saudi Arabian Minister of Haj and Umrah Dr Tawfiq Fawzan Al-Rabiah. 'This symposium is held annually during the Haj season, where all Haj ministers convene to discuss and resolve any issues related to Haj matters,' he said. He also advised Malaysian pilgrims to always take care of their health while performing Haj, especially during wukuf. 'I hope our pilgrims stay well-hydrated and remain at their accommodations unless there is a need to go out, as we are concerned about health risks from overexposure to the heat,' he said. Expressing his appreciation to TH haj officials and media personnel, Mohd Na'im said they had performed their duties well and carried out their entrusted responsibilities for the smooth running of this season's haj pilgrimage. 'Each of you has played your role. TH greatly appreciates the contribution of media personnel in disseminating information, especially updates from the Holy Land,' he added.
Barnama
2 days ago
- Barnama
Over 90 Pct Of Malaysian Haj Pilgrims Have Reached Holy Land - Mohd Na'im
SEPANG, May 30 (Bernama) -- Over 90 per cent of Malaysian pilgrims have safely reached the Holy Land so far via 98 flights departing from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), says Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar. Mohd Na'im said that today he would be joining 284 pilgrims, along with Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, to perform the fifth pillar of Islam for the 1446H/2025 season. 'We only have about two thousand pilgrims remaining. This means that out of 31,600 pilgrims, almost 30,000 are already in the Holy Land,' he told reporters before departing here. Earlier, Mohd Na'im and Shamsul Azri greeted Malaysian pilgrims departing this evening on flight MH8192. The Saudi Arabian government has approved a Haj quota of 31,600 for Malaysian pilgrims this season. The first flight carrying Malaysian pilgrims left on April 29, while the last flight is scheduled for June 1, with the Day of Arafah (Wukuf), which is the 9th of Zulhijjah, falling on Thursday, June 5. Sharing his programme while in the Holy Land, he said various activities had been arranged by Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH), including visiting TH headquarters in Makkah and Madinah, attending the 49th Grand Haj Symposium, and holding an official meeting with Saudi Arabian Minister of Haj and Umrah Dr Tawfiq Fawzan Al-Rabiah. 'This symposium is held annually during the Haj season, where all Haj ministers convene to discuss and resolve any issues related to Haj matters,' he said. He also advised Malaysian pilgrims to always take care of their health while performing Haj, especially during wukuf.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Saudi reforms streamline haj experience for Malaysian pilgrims
JEDDAH: Haj management is becoming more advanced as the Saudi Arabian government rolls out reforms to ensure pilgrims have a smooth and meaningful experience in fulfilling Islam's fifth pillar. Eight Malaysian media personnel, invited by the Saudi Media Ministry, experienced the streamlined haj process from their departure at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport. Saudi Media Ministry facilitator Datuk Izelan Basar said the media team observed improvements made by both the Malaysian and Saudi governments. "We can see how smooth and easy the haj journey has become... There is no confusion, everything is organised neatly. This is all thanks to the facilities provided by the Saudi government, which employs advanced technology... who knows, maybe soon facial recognition and other modern technologies will be used here," he said during a briefing for Malaysian media representatives. The Saudi government has introduced the Saudi Visa Bio app for haj visa applications, requiring four steps: email registration, passport information scan, facial scan and a 10-finger biometric fingerprint scan. The app aims to simplify visa processing and reduce entry delays for pilgrims arriving in Jeddah and Madinah. Malaysia is one of eight countries chosen for the pilot, along with Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kuwait, the United Kingdom, Tunisia and Morocco. Malaysia is once again part of the Makkah Route programme, having been the first country to implement it via a 2017 pilot. The programme allows Malaysian pilgrims to complete Saudi immigration and customs at KLIA, eliminating long waits after their eight-hour flight. Izelan warned Malaysian Muslims to avoid falling for scams involving fake haj visas this season. "I want to remind everyone to be careful and not take lightly the promises made by certain parties because haj visas are strictly regulated. The Saudi government has learned from past seasons, during which there were many deaths among pilgrims, so they are now very strict. Don't be fooled... be cautious when buying (Haj) packages to come here," he said. He also noted Saudi Arabia's advanced media facilities, where global media teams gather in centralised, high-tech studios. "Malaysian media representatives visiting here should consider making some changes upon returning. Here, we not only worship but also learn and build networks. Maybe one day Malaysia will have facilities as advanced as Saudi Arabia's. They are far ahead, especially in terms of AI (artificial intelligence) used during the haj season. I believe in the near future the Saudi government will be able to accurately predict the exact number of resources needed—how many buses, what infrastructure to build and provide—for the comfort of future Hajj pilgrims," he said. The eight Malaysian media representatives, including two from Media Prima Berhad's News and Current Affairs (NCA) unit, will be in Makkah until June 12.
