The Malaysian haj pilgrims will leave for Arafah from Masjidil Haram in three phases on Oct 13 to start their pilgrimage.    

Tabung Haji (TH) haj group leader Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman said the pilgrims would start the journey in stages from 11am up to midnight.    

“On Oct 13, which is Zulhijah 8, we will transport the pilgrims in stages and all of them are scheduled to be in Arafah on the morning of Oct 14 or Zulhijah 9,” he told reporters after visiting Arafah, Mina and Muzdalifah in Masyair, near Makkah today.   

He said TH would transport those who were old and hospitalised by ambulance for the ‘wukuf’ in Arafah.   

After the wukuf, between the zohor and maghrib prayers on Oct 14, the pilgrimage group would transit at Muzdalifah and camp overnight at Mina before the stoning the devil ritual at the three ‘jamrah’.   

Syed Saleh said the pilgrims would be briefed on the necessities to pack in order to perform this part of their haj for the five days in Masyair.

“TH is also prepared with all the logistics for any eventuality on those days, such as rain,” he said.   

He said the Saudi Arabian government had ordered the installation of all the camps and facilities today.

Meanwhile, the last haj flight from Malaysia to Makkah is scheduled to arrive tomorrow morning, raising the number of Malaysian pilgrims in the holy land to 22,320.  

It has been reported that five elderly Malaysian pilgrims had died in Madinah and Makkah.

- Bernama