MALAYSIAN PILGRIMS ARRIVE IN MAKKAH

MAKKAH, Oct 18 (Bernama) -- The first group of some 1,100 Malaysian haj pilgrims
arrived in this holy city after travelling 400 kilometres and seven hours.

The pilgrims left Bir Ali on the outskirt of Madinah at 6.30pm (11.30pm Malaysia
time) and arrived at Janadriyah Hotel, about 800m from Masjidil Haram, at 1.30am
(6.30am Malaysia time).

On hand to receive them are Malaysian haj group head, Mohd Salleh Abdul Mubin,
Malaysian haj consul in Jeddah, Mohd Khalid Mohd Nordin, haj group deputy head
(welfare), Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman, Tabung Haji (TH/Pilgrims Fund) and
muassasah representatives in Makkah.

They were given zam zam water to drink and put up on level six of Janadriyah
Hotel which houses TH headquarters and operation centre in Makkah.

After subuh (morning) prayers, the pilgrims were taken to perform tawaf and saie
umrah by the muassasah representative.

Salleh told reporters TH also provide religious teachers and programmes to guide
pilgrims in preparation for wukuf day on 14 Nov (9 Zulhijjah).

He said TH created a record of sorts when it welcome the arrival of three haj
flights (KT1, KT2 and KT3) compared to two flights the last haj season.

TH also held yassin, tahlil, maghrib and hajat prayers at Sevilla Barakat Hotel
last night to seek Allah's help in making its operation smooth.