HAJ OPERATIONS RUN SMOOTHLY

From ZULKIFLI SALLEH

MEDINA, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- Half of the 26,000 Malaysians scheduled to perform the haj this season have arrived in Saudi Arabia.

Tabung Haji (TH) media operations director Rashid Hussein said 3,000 had
entered the holy city of Mecca as of today, while others were still here but
would join them in stages.

"The haj operation is going smoothly so far. The pilgrims are healthy and
well. Tabung Haji will close shop in Medina on Dec 3 and will focus on the
operation in Mecca," he told Malaysian reporters who are here to cover the haj.

The last flight to Medina would depart from the KL International Airport
(KLIA) on Friday, while subsequent flights were scheduled to land in Jeddah and
the pilgrims would be brought to Mecca, said Rashid, who is also TH Public
Affairs and Corporate Communications general manager.

He added that those in the TH media team, which included representatives
from RTM, Media Prima and Bernama, would be giving coverage to the haj
operations here and in Mecca until mid-December.

Tabung Haji is the Malaysian hajj pilgrims fund board.