MALAYSIA PILGRIMS EARN SAUDI ARABIA'S RESPECT

From Abdul Aziz Harun
MEDINA (Saudi Arabia), Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysian pilgrims have earned the respect of Saudi Arabia for their discipline while Lembaga Tabung Haji (Malaysian Pilgrimage Board) has been commended for the management of pilgrims, said Malaysian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Syed Omar Syed Al-Saggaf.

He said other countries have been urged to emulate Malaysian pilgrims' exemplary discipline and Tabung Haji's efficiency in the management of pilgrims.

"Saudi Arabia sees Malaysia as the most advanced, stable and peaceful Islamic country," he told a news conference here on Thursday.

Syed Omar commended Saudi Arabia for improving the facilities for pilgrims in carrying out their ziarah (visit) and haj pilgrimage, including the expansion of Masjidil Haram (Grand Mosque) in Mecca, improvement of transportation and introduction of various measures, including limiting the number of Saudis from outside Mecca in performing the haj.

"On our part, Tabung Haji has taken similar steps, including allowing pilgrims to perform another haj only after five years," he added.

Syed Omar said Mecca is undergoing massive development to accommodate four million pilgrims in two or three years' time compared with three million this season.

In efforts to further smoothen the haj pilgrimage for Malaysians, he said this year Tabung Haji has introduced the "rakan ibadah" (friends of worship) where mentors are selected among pilgrims to guide others in fulfilling their haj rites.

He said haj preparations by the Malaysian Consulate-General in Jeddah, the Malaysian Haj Consulate in Jeddah and Tabung Haji started six months ago.