TABUNG HAJI (TH) claimed that the issues faced by Malaysian pilgrims at Mina are nothing to shout about. It has been a long-standing problem.
On June 28, FocusM reported the obstacles faced by Malaysian pilgrims on the eve of Hari Raya Haji.
“The space and size inside the tent at Mina are beyond TH’s control because they are provided by the Saudi Arabian authorities for all countries,” Sinar Harian quoted TH CEO and group affairs director Syed Hamadah Syed Othman as saying on Friday (June 30).
“Despite the fact that the number of pilgrims grows each year along with the population of a nation, the border of the Mina is defined by law and has remained unchanged.”
According to Syed Hamadah, the TH Hajj Affairs management team has informed pilgrims during the Hajj course back in Malaysia of the inconvenience that they might have to face.
“Due to the limited space, TH always advised pilgrims to bring only the wheeled bag that is provided to avoid getting cramped in the limited space, but some individuals brought more than one bag.”
While the TH top management has addressed the issue of accommodation, a source revealed to FocusM that another concern among Malaysian pilgrims is the shortage of medications.
“I met the field doctor at Mina, asking for flu medication but was told by the doctor that there is limited supply available. The doctor claimed that he only received 13 strips of Clarinase to cover the 2,000 to 3,000 pilgrims under their care. I was lucky to even receive two tablets of Clarinase,” noted the source.
“Flu, cough, heavy phlegm are common sicknesses that pilgrims have to face. I don’t understand why TH didn’t prepare adequate medical supplies. They should already know by now that the immunity of elderly pilgrims would deteriorate with age.”
Moreover, the source questioned why TH had not made early plans for improvement. They claimed that TH’s counter-argument has always been that the pilgrims themselves have to “be patient”.
Earlier on Saturday (July 1), Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah expressed his concerns over the welfare of Malaysian pilgrims following news report of “cramped space” at the tent in Mina.
Religious Affairs Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said he received a private text from His Majesty Sultan Abdullah who wanted the matter investigated and dealt with.
Thus, he had discussed with TH’s top management so that the Hajj Pilgrimage Advisory Committee (TH-Department of Islamic Development Malaysia/JAKIM) would think of a new effort to overcome the issue in the near future. – July 5, 2023
Main photo credit: AFP
