Pilgrimage More Comfortable For Haj Pilgrims Now - Malaysian Deputy PM

From Hafizah Kamaruddin MAKKAH, Oct 1 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the development of Makkah city and the Masjidilharam (Grand Mosque) as well as improved haj services provided by Tabung Haji (TH, the Malaysian haj pilgrims fund board) have provided a lot of comforts to Malaysian pilgrims. He made this comment when asked by the Malaysian media about the different experience performing his first haj 30 years ago and today, after visiting Malaysian pilgrims receiving treatment at the Aziziah Tabung Haji Treatment Centre here Tuesday. Muhyiddin arrived here on Sunday to perform the haj with his wife, Noorainee Abdul Rahman, four children and two other family members. Muhyiddin, who performed the haj for the first time with Tabung Haji in the 1980s, also said :"Much has changed." "I feel special (this time) especially seeing the situation in Makkah and Masjidilharam today and 30 years ago... very different," he said. "When I prayed (at the Masjidilharam), I found the Saudi Arabian government had taken the initiative of expanding space for the pilgrims, and in several levels. I could not pray downstairs, so I had to go upstairs (to pray)," he said. He said the transport system in Makkah was also more organised and less congested compared to the 1980s, and the city was cleaner than before. "It is good to be performing the haj," he said. Commenting on TH, he said the accommodation, transportation and other services provided were better than 30 years ago. In fact, he said, the services provided by TH as a body which managed Malaysian haj pilgrims was acknowledged by the King of Saudi Arabia in every meeting with haj ministers. Muhyiddin said: "Every year, many countries want to emulate TH. We give guidance and help in haj management (to other countries) so that in the future, the management of the world's pilgrims would improve or be on par (with TH) , and this would be a source of pride for Malaysia." He added that he hoped all 22,230 Malaysian pilgrims this year could perform their haj as best as possible. Muhyiddin also congratulated TH senior management and staff who would sacrifice their time each year to be in the Holy Land to provide the haj pilgrims with the best service, which made TH an exemplary institution. According to the local media, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia recently ordered the newly expanded areas of the Grand Mosque in Makkah open for prayers in order to cater to more than two million haj pilgrims this year. This means that pilgrims are now able to perform prayers inside the expanded mosque and courtyards on the northern, western, southern and eastern parts of the King Abdullah Haram Expansion Project, which is currently 67 percent completed. King Abdullah had also instructed officials to open the expanded mataf, or circumambulation area, around the Holy Kaabah. The move has helped to reduce congestion inside the mosque and helped pilgrims perform their religious rituals with ease. The project will increase the mosque's capacity to cater for two million worshippers, and the mataf from 52,000 pilgrims to 130,000 pilgrims per hour. --BERNAMA