MALAYSIAN KING ADVISES HAJ PILGRIMS TO OBSERVE HYGIENE TO PREVENT H1N1 INFECTION

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Tuesday advised the 26,000 Malaysian Haj pilgrims this year to observe personal hygiene and cleanliness of their surroundings while in the Holy Land in order to check the spread of Influenza A(H1N1).

The King also advised the pilgrims to be patient at all times when
performing the fifth tenet (Haj) of Islam as they would be facing the tests from
Allah, besides protecting the image and good name of their country.

"The Raja Permaisuri (Queen) and I pray that you will have a perfect Haj, be
in good health and return home safely," Tuanku Mizan said in his speech to bid
bon voyage to the second group of Haj pilgrims numbering 350 at the Tabung Haji
(Pilgrims Fund) Complex in Kelana Jaya, near here.

Also present were Queen Tuanku Nur Zahirah, Saudi Arabian ambassador to
Malaysia Mohamed Reda Abu Al-Hamayel and Minister in the Prime Minister's
Department Jamil Khir Baharom.

Later at a press conference, Jamil Khir said Malaysia had once again gained
recognition from the Saudi Arabian government for Tabung Haji's ability in
providing the best pilgrim management service.

He said the Saudi Arabian government had chosen Malaysia to be the yardstick
for all aspects of pilgrim management and urged the other countries to adopt the
Malaysian model.

On the Malaysian pilgrims, Jamil Khir said although all of them had taken
the seasonal influenza vaccine jabs as a precaution, they must strictly observe
personal hygiene and the suggested measures to prevent Influenza A(H1N1).

As an added precaution, he said, Tabung Haji's medical team complete with
specialists and sufficient equipment was already in Mecca to face any
possibility.
-- BERNAMA