First Group Of Malaysian Haj Pilgrims Set To Enter Makkah Starting May 4

From Nurliyana Farhah Ruslan

MADINAH, May 2 (Bernama) -- 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 necessary requirements before setting off, including donning the ihram and making other essential preparations,” he told the Malaysian media here.

He said that 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