First batch of Malaysian Hajj pilgrims on MAS arrive at KLIA

The first batch of 279 Malaysian pilgrims travelling on Malaysia Airlines (MAS) arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) here from the Holy Land early this morning,

The pilgrims, on Flight MH8201, had departed Jeddah at 2pm on October 10, 2014 and was greeted upon arrival by Lembaga Tabung Haji and Malaysia Airlines officials.

According to a statement issued by MAS, all the pilgrims had to undergo a rigorous screening process mandated by the Ministry of Health upon arrival, to ensure there were no cross-border transmissions of the Ebola virus.

“We wish to congratulate all our pilgrims on the successful completion of their pilgrimage and welcome home,” said MAS Group CEO, Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, who was on hand to greet the pilgrims.

For this Hajj season, MAS operated 39 direct flights to Jeddah and Madinah which had departed from seven Malaysian points, namely Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bharu, Kuala Terengganu, Alor Setar, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

The pilgrims were the second batch of Malaysian pilgrims to arrive home from performing the Hajj.

Yesterday, some 444 pilgrims travelling on a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight arrived at the KLIA and were welcomed by Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim.