MECCA: Muslims in Malaysia are advised to be cautious of haj packages involving Furada visas offered by travel agencies that are not licensed by Tabung Haji (TH) to avoid getting stranded at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Malaysian Haj Group head Datuk Seri Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman issued the reminder ahead of Wukuf Day, which is the culmination of the haj pilgrimage, on June 27.
“Every year, there are reports of potential pilgrims stranded at KLIA because they do not have the flight tickets and visa to perform the pilgrimage.
“Last year, the pilgrims paid between RM40,000 and RM80,000. This year, the amount will be higher with the increasing cost,” he told a press conference on the development of the haj operations here, Bernama reported.
He said the issuance of the visa to perform the haj, apart from the quota given to Malaysia, was only by the Saudi Arabian government; 31,600 pilgrims for the 1444 Hijrah haj season.
Syed Saleh advised potential pilgrims who obtained the visa to use the haj package services provided by haj pilgrimage operators licensed by TH only.
Meanwhile, family members of pilgrims, especially the elderly who are travelling alone in the Holy Land, can now breathe a sigh of relief when TH introduces “Prihatin Tetamu Ar Rahman”, a companion initiative, to help them during the peak of the haj in Arafah, Mina and Muzdalifah.
Haj counselling manager Mohamad Hanif Napi said through the initiative, selected pilgrims would be given assistance including going to the bathroom in addition to performing the pilgrimage.
“Among the categories that we set for selection in the initiative are for pilgrims aged 70 and above, travelling alone and not chronically ill,” he said.
He added that his team would screen the nominations prepared by the management of the pilgrim accommodations before the interview session that will be conducted by a panel of medical experts, Holy Land pilgrimage guides and counsellors to select the participants on June 19.
