KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 – The safety of haj pilgrims remains a priority for the government and Tabung Haji, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.
Na’im said that the government and Tabung Haji (TH) are closely cooperating with the Saudi Arabian government, particularly the Ministry of Haj and Umrah to ensure the smooth travel of Haj pilgrims from Malaysia.
“The Ministry of Haj and Umrah has assured me that they are prepared with alternatives to ensure that, in the event of any mishap, appropriate measures will be taken.
“What matters most for haj pilgrims whose intention is to perform the haj, is that we pray together for Allah to facilitate and grant us safety,” he said.
He added that the ministry also closely collaborates with the Foreign Ministry to obtain the latest information on the situation of the conflict between Iran and Israel.
“Information received so far indicates that the situation is under control. I assure you here that the welfare and safety of the haj pilgrims are our top priority, whether at the level of the Saudi Arabian government, the Malaysian government or TH.
“TH and the government are closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East, and we will keep the pilgrims informed of developments from time to time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Na’im said that nearly 600 TH officers would be deployed to Saudi Arabia to facilitate the affairs of the haj pilgrims.
He added that all these officers had undergone training as preparation before departing for the holy land.
