MASJIDIL HARAM EXPANSION DOES NOT AFFECT ACCOMMODATION FOR MALAYSIAN PILGRIMS

From Zulkefli Salleh

MECCA, Nov 12 (Bernama) - The demolition of buildings used to provide
accommodation around the Masjidil Haram which could cater for 500,000 residents
does not affect the accommodation for Malaysian pilgrims for the current haj
season.


Malaysian Haj Delegation Head Mohd Salleh Mubin said the accommodations
usually used to house about 26,000 Malaysian pilgrims managed by Tabung Haji
(TH) were located outside the demolition zone.

"We rented buildings which were used last year with one or two more new
buildings and they are all located within 800 metres of the Masjidil Haram
square," he told reporters from the TH media team, here Wednesday.

The expansion of the Masjidil Haram square was reported to raise its
capacity by 35 per cent, including the widening of the "sai'e" area which could
take about 120,000 haj pilgrims at any one time compared with 45,000 previously.

Mohd Salleh said TH had succeeded in making thorough and proper preparation
to provide comfortable and safe accommodation for all Malaysian haj pilgrims
this year.

"Accommodation forms an important aspect in the management of the haj
pilgrims and it needs thorough preperation. Besides the 'Muassasah' pilgrims, we
also provide accommodation to pilgrims who came on additional haj packages
handled by the private sector," he said.

The Malaysian haj pilgrims are staying at the Janadiriah Hotel, Abraj
Khazidar Hotel, Hassan Khazidar Hotel and Durat Al Khuts Hotel, all of them
located near Masjidil Haram.

Mohd Salleh said the selection of the accommodation facilities was made
based on factors such as the sufficiently large size of the rooms which could
take in five people on the average, a large lobby, adequate lift facilities and
safety features such as a fire prevention system as specified by the Saudi
authorities.

-- BERNAMA