Kuala lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today congratulated Malaysian haj pilgrims selected to perform the fifth pillar of Islam this year. In a Facebook post, Anwar expressed gratitude for the pilgrims' early morning departure to the Holy Land.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar highlighted the haj as a significant spiritual journey requiring sacrifice, sincerity, patience, and devotion. He expressed his prayers for the pilgrims' affairs to be eased, their health maintained, and their protection ensured throughout their stay in the Holy Land.

A total of 31,600 Malaysian haj pilgrims will perform the pilgrimage this year. The first group of 284 pilgrims departed from Terminal 1 of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 4:05 am on Malaysia Airlines flight MH8050. The final flight carrying Malaysian pilgrims is scheduled for May 20.