NO RESTRICTION FOR PILGRIMS TO PERFORM HAJ THIS YEAR

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- The government will not impose any restriction on those who have registered to perform the Haj this year.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom said there
was no directive from the Saudi Arabian government to restrict pilgrims aged 65
years and above and children below 12 from performing the Haj.

The Saudi Arabian government had earlier issued a statement to restrict the
elderly above 65 years old, children under 12 and the chronically ill from
performing the Haj in the kingdom due to fears over the H1N1 flu virus.

"The status remains, thus there will not be any restriction and so far, I
have not received any directive," he told reporters after witnessing the
handing-over of Malaysia's halal certification from the Halal Industry
Development Corporation (HDC) to the Malaysian Islamic Development Department
(Jakim), here, Wednesday.

He said the first batch of pilgrims would depart to the Holy Land on Oct
20 and all pilgrims were required to take the Influenza A(H1N1) jab before their
departure.

Meanwhile, he urged Jakim to speed up the process of issuing the halal
certificates for applications that have fulfilled the requirements.

On Tuesday, Jakim urged organisers of breaking of fast, including hotels, to
have halal certification and this would require the certification process to be
expedited.
-- BERNAMA