FIRST MALAYSIAN HAJ GROUP WILL LEAVE ON OCT 20

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- The first haj group from Malaysia to Makkah
will leave on the 7am flight on Oct 20, Minister in the Prime Minister's
Department Jamil Khir Baharom said.

He said the King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin would be at
Kompleks Haji in Kelana Jaya to send off the Malaysian pilgrims.

"Some 444 of the 26,000 pilgrims will leave on the first flight," he told
reporters after presenting gifts from Tabung Haji corporate friends to pilgrims
at Tabung Haji office here Thursday.

Tabung Haji is the Malaysian hajj pilgrims fund board, which facilitates
savings for the pilgrimage to Makkah through investment in Shariah-compliant
vehicles.

Thirty-four companies joined the programme this year compared to the 23 last
year.

Jamil reminded pilgrims to take H1N1 jabs and ensure that they were verified
by the clinic or hospital.

"They can't perform the haj without doctor verification. The jab is
compulsory," he said.

Tabung Haji had allocated RM1.5 million (US$441,038) for H1N1 jabs, not
including the free jabs given to pilgrims.

-- BERNAMA