Hassan and his wife Rohaya.
THIS year has been special for an elderly couple from Johor Baru who got the chance to perform the haj after a 14-year wait.
Retiree Hassan Abdul Hamid, 76, said he was grateful that his dream of visiting the Holy Land came true.
“I received a call informing me that I had been chosen to perform the haj about a week before the fasting month.
“I was overjoyed, and so was my family when I told them the news,” he said to the media during the send-off ceremony for haj pilgrims at Senai International Airport in May.
The former Johor Baru City Council mechanic was among the 3,800 pilgrims who departed for Kuala Lumpur en route to Mecca.
They were sent off by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, state Islamic religious affairs committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid and state youth, sports, entrepreneur development and cooperatives committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah.
Hassan, who was also among the oldest pilgrims in the batch, was with his wife, Rohaya Abdul Kadir.
(From second left) Mohd Hairi, Mohd Fared and Onn Hafiz with haj pilgrims at Senai International Airport in Johor. — Photos: THOMAS YONG/The Star
Rohaya, 69, said she was thankful to have lived long enough to finally perform the pilgrimage.
“In 2020, I was placed in an induced coma at the intensive care unit of Hospital Sultanah Aminah after contracting Covid-19.
“Everyone thought I would not survive, but miraculously, I recovered,” said the mother of eight and grandmother of 23.
“I am grateful to have been given a second chance at life, and now, to be able to perform the haj.”
Rohaya, who manages funeral rites at a mosque in Johor Baru, said her journey was sponsored by an anonymous donor.
“My husband was the one who received the offer from Tabung Haji, but he asked for me to accompany him as he suffers from asthma, and a donor stepped in.”
In his speech, Onn Hafiz said, “I believe under the guidance of Tabung Haji, state government and Johor Islamic Religious Council, our pilgrims have been well prepared to fulfil their religious duties.
“Take this opportunity to perform your haj with sincerity. I also ask that you pray for the well-being and future of our state,” he said.
Onn Hafiz also reminded pilgrims to pray for the state’s continued peace and prosperity during their time in the Holy Land.
Meanwhile, Mohd Fared said the 3,800 Johor residents performing the haj included 500 pilgrims under state government sponsorship.
He said the number was the same allocated to the state in recent years.
“However, the state government will continue working closely with Tabung Haji to apply for an increased quota,” he said.
