Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian pilgrims are advised to remain inside their tents and avoid direct exposure to sunlight, especially between 10 am and 4 pm, due to the extreme heat, which is expected to reach up to 50 degrees Celsius. Pilgrims Fund Board (Tabung Haji -TH) Head of the Malaysian Haj Delegation (KRH) Mohd Hisham Harun said this in line with the directives issued by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah which recommended the implementation of a lockdown (restriction) of pilgrims’ movements in the Arafah and Mina areas during peak heat hours as a preventive measure against the risk of heat stroke.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Hisham Harun received these instructions through a WhatsApp group of heads of haj delegations nationwide and during a meeting with the Deputy Minister of International Relations, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Saudi Arabia, Dr Hassan Yahya Al-Manakhrah. Dr Al-Manakhrah emphasized full cooperation with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Saudi Arabia, and the local operator, Masyarik, to ensure pilgrims remain in their tents and refrain from venturing out during the hot weather.
He further mentioned that the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah advised pilgrims to stay in their respective tents during the wukuf day and avoid open areas, including the Namirah Mosque, to listen to the Arafah sermon. As an alternative, large screens will be provided in the tent area for pilgrims to watch the live broadcast of the sermon.
Mohd Hisham also urged all haj officials to prepare physically, mentally, and emotionally for the peak of the haj operations, especially during the movement of pilgrims to Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina. “TH’s main focus is to ensure that all Malaysian pilgrims can perform their wukuf at Arafah,” he stated. For those undergoing treatment, the ‘safari wukuf’ method will be implemented, which involves taking them on a bus to Arafah for at least one to two hours before returning to the treatment center.
He reminded the officers to maintain their health and collaborate as a team to ensure the welfare and smooth execution of the haj pilgrimage by Malaysian pilgrims. “We pray that all the planning and implementation for the haj will proceed smoothly and that officers will play an important role in ensuring that pilgrims can perform their worship perfectly, Insya Allah,” he concluded.