SEPANG: The first group of 284 Malaysian haj pilgrims departed for the Holy Land yesterday morning from Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 at 4.05am aboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH8050.
They are expected to arrive at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina at 7.50am Saudi Arabia time on the same day.
The group comprised 141 pilgrims from Alor Setar, Kedah, and 143 from Sepang departure stations.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan said he was deeply grateful to spend time with the pilgrims as they departed to perform the fifth pillar of Islam.
“After all our planning and various initiatives and programmes to prepare our pilgrims, praise be to God, this year’s journey has gone very smoothly.
“All pilgrims have undergone a comprehensive programme, not only in terms of religious rulings but also health aspects, understanding of haj rites and other preparations,” he said.
“This morning, we saw off 284 of our haj pilgrims. The Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Malaysia, Osamah Dakhel R. Al-Ahmadi, also joined us to mark this departure,” he said after the farewell ceremony for Malaysian haj pilgrims for the 1447H/2026M season.
Also present were Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Marhamah Rosli, Tabung Haji (TH) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Hussain and TH chief executive officer Mustakim Mohamad, Bernama reported.
In his parting advice, Zulkifli reminded pilgrims to take care of their health and personal safety, focus on their worship and obtain updates only from reliable sources such as TH.
“Do not trust news from unverified sources. Do not do anything prohibited or inappropriate while in the Holy Land. Focus on your worship as covered during the haj course,” he said.
Zulkifli added that he and his delegation will depart for the Holy Land on May 19 for a working visit to meet pilgrims and perform the haj.
