From Amirul Mohd Sajadi
MAKKAH, Saudi Arabia: A total of 31,243 out of 31,600 Malaysian haj pilgrims for the 1447H/2026M season has arrived in the Holy Land on 99 flights as of today.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Dr Zulkifli Hasan, said the final flight carrying the remaining pilgrims is expected to arrive tomorrow (Thursday, May 21) at about 9:10 pm local time, completing all 100 flights transporting Malaysian haj pilgrims to Madinah and Jeddah.
“With the arrival of the final flight tomorrow, all 31,600 Malaysian haj pilgrims will be in the Holy Land to perform this year’s haj,” he told a press conference here today.
Malaysia uses a total of 100 special charter flights, operated by AMAL by Malaysia Airlines Bhd and Saudia Airlines, to transport its haj pilgrims.
Commenting on the 1447H/2026M haj season, he said operations managed by Tabung Haji have run smoothly, with the welfare and safety of pilgrims remaining the top priority.
“Alhamdulillah, TH (Tabung Haji) has continued to improve the quality of its haj services in various aspects.
“We already have a strong haj management system, and now we want to take it a step further so it becomes a global benchmark in haj administration,” he said.
Among the improvements noted by pilgrims this year are a 24-hour free shuttle bus service to Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque) for those staying about one to 1.5 kilometres from the mosque, as well as sofa beds, heat-insulated tents and a more efficient air-conditioning system in Arafah, Muzdalifah and Mina for the Masyair phase (peak phase of haj pilgrimage). – BERNAMA
