Around 31,600 Malaysians from all states and from all walks of life were flown to Saudi Arabia for their Haj by Tabung Haji on 100 chartered flights. — Bernama

MORE than two million Muslims gathered in Mecca this year for the Haj pilgrimage even as temperatures soared to 47ºC.

Of that number, 31,600 were Malaysians, coming from all states and from all walks of life, and ranging in age from 16 to 83 years old; they were all flown in by Tabung Haji on 100 chartered flights.

Tabung Haji’s Department of Haj head Hisham Harun said that this year, 632 personnel involved came from a cross-section of sectors, including hostels and zones management, healthcare, religious guidance for Haj and visits, finance, media, transportation, catering, baggage handling, customer service, and more.

“This is to cater to all the needs of the Malaysian pilgrims – from their lodgings to 42 menus of Malaysian food,” said Hisham, who was completely hands-on and on the ground assisting pilgrims throughout the Haj period.

This year marked the strictest Haj by Saudi Arabia authorities – only the season during the Covid-19 lockdown was stricter – as the guardian of the Holy Land attempted to make this the safest Haj ever, with the lowest number of deaths.

Following the tagline “No Haj without Nusuk” – referring to the official digital platform that manages pilgrimages; “nusuk” means permit in Arabic – security officials scanned the QR codes of everyone’s big square tag at all checkpoints throughout Mecca and various entrances to the Grand Holy Mosque.

Malaysia’s Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar stressed that such rules were made to ensure the safety of Haj pilgrims remains the topmost priority.

Mohd Na’im giving his Khutbah Arafah to Malaysian pilgrims. He says that strict rules have been implemented to ensure the safety of Haj pilgrims remains the topmost priority. — Bernama

Saudi authorities also ordered a lockdown at midday during the pinnacle period of Day of Arafah to avoid deaths – every year, this is the day most deaths occur as the elderly and vulnerable attempt to walk in the midday sun to the various holy sites.