Haj Pilgrims Follow Eight Guidance Sessions Before Wukuf Day

From Mohd Shukri Ishak MAKKAH, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Pilgrims Fund Board (Tabung Haji or TH) will continue providing guidance to Malaysian haj pilgrims to improve their knowledge before the day of wukuf, said TH senior general manager Syed Salleh Syed Abdul Rahman. According to Syed Salleh, who is also the Malaysian Haj group leader, the pilgrims in Makkah must focus on their deeds and follow the guidance sessions which would be organised by TH. "In Makkah, they (the pilgrims) will follow eight guidance sessions, besides performing the rituals on their own," he told reporters after welcoming the first group of Malaysian haj pilgrims in Madinah here Monday. Syed Salleh also urged haj pilgrims to look after their health following the hot weather in Makkah where the temperature is now 45 degrees celsius. The group comprising 450 pilgrims arrived at about 2.30 pm (7.30 pm Malaysian time) in 10 buses, after departing Madinah at about 6.45 am. The group had arrived in Madinah on the first KT1 flight on Aug 16. They were now housed in Hostel 83, at the Tabung Haji Abraj Al-Janadriah Headquarters building here, which is located about 700 metres from the Haram Mosque. Six colleges will house the Malaysia pilgrims in Makkah, providing them with guidance programmes on rituals, counselling as well as counter services for customer service, finance, clinic and other facilities. A total of 11,088 haj pilgrims will arrive in Madinah and will move in stages to Makkah Monday until Sept 7. Meanwhile, the first group of Malaysians will arrive in Jeddah on Sept 1 on flight KT34 and move to Makkah. -- BERNAMA