Malaysian Haj Pilgrims To Enjoy Fast Track Facility In Saudi Arabia

KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 (Bernama) -- A total of 30,200 Malaysian haj pilgrims will enjoy the fast track facility upon arrival for immigration clearance in Saudi Arabia via the implementation of haj pre-clearance programme this year. Tabung Haji Haj Department senior general manager Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman said the facility would expedite the management of pilgrims in terms of self-documentation, immigration clearance, luggage collection and transportation to their respective accommodation, particularly for first-time pilgrims. “Prior to going through the 'fast track' facility at the arrival hall of haj pilgrims in Jeddah and Madinah, they will go through haj pre-clearance process by Saudi Arabian immigration officers at all eight points of departures here. “The pilgrims will undergo, among others, 10-digit biometric fingerprint scan and facial identification while reporting at a point of departure here being carried out by Saudi Arabia’s officers to facilitate their arrivals into Saudi Arabia,” he told a press conference at Menara TH here, Wednesday. Syed Saleh, who is also Malaysian haj delegation head, said as soon as the pilgrims arrived at the haj terminals in Saudi Arabia, the pilgrims could go straight through the fast track facility to board the bus to their accommodation building without having to collect their luggages. --BERNAMA