By NNN-Bernama,
Jeddah : Malaysia today expressed its appreciation and recognition for the Saudi Arabian government’s earnest effort to provide more
comfort for the Haj pilgrims in performing their religious rite.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom said the preparations made by the Saudi Arabian were excellent.
For the first time, Saudi Arabia is introducing rail service to take pilgrims from Arafah to Mina.
“I believe this move and not allowing vehicles carrying less than 25 persons each to enter Mecca will help reduce traffic congestion,” he told the Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) media team covering the 1431 Hijrah Haj season, after arriving here from Kuala Lumpur.
On preparations by TH for wukuf on Monday, he said all had been made andthat based on last year’s Haj, the pilgrims might be able to reach Arafah in two hours if there is not too much traffic congestion.
On another note, Jamil Khir said the Haj subsidy would continue while TH would ensure that the Haj cost would not burden pilgrims.
He said the government was aware of concerns over the impending increase in Haj cost in view of the development taking place in Mecca, especially around the Masjidil Haram (Grand Mosque).
“The Haj package cost this year is below RM10,000 including the RM3,060 subsidy given and is still lower than that of other countries,” he added.
He said in Mecca, some old buildings had been demolished and replaced with four- and five-star hotels, which would have an impact on the rental paid on buildings rented by TH for Malaysian pilgrims’ accommodation as the owners would charge a new rate when the lease expires.
“We will look into renting new buildings but they must not be too far from Masjidil Haram, perhaps only one kilometre away, for the convenience of pilgrims to perform their prayers at this mosque,” he said.
Jamil Khir also called on Malaysian pilgrims in the Holy Land to pray that the predicted second wave of flood would not happpen in Kedah and Perlis as the people had suffered enough from the massive flood recently.