Hajj: Five Malaysian pilgrims fail to perform wukuf

Five Malaysian hajj pilgrims could not perform the Wukuf ritual (congregate on the Arafah plain) on Sunday due to poor health.

The ritual is a must for a successful pilgrimage.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said they were aged from 39 to 87 and comprised four men and a woman who were now receiving treatment at a hospital in Saudi Arabia.

"They suffered problems like difficulty in breathing and brain haemorrhage. Due to the serious health problems, permission was denied to bring them to Arafah," he told reporters after visiting the Tabung Haji Syisyah health

treatment centre here today.

He also gave the assurance that Tabung Haji (TH) will give them first priority to perform the pilgrimage again, health permitting.

Jamil Khir said 10 Malaysian pilgrims died this Haj season, seven in Makkah, two in Madinah while one was not able to make it to the Holy Land because the pilgrim died back home.

He said the latest death happened yesterday involving a man who died while performing rituals in Muzdalifah.

Meanwhile, Jamil Khir said the first batch of Malaysian pilgrims will be returning home this Saturday.

Numbering 459 pilgrims, they will be flying home on Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight SV5644 which will depart from Jeddah International Airport for Kuala Lumpur at 10am local time (3am Sunday in Malaysia).

This hajj season sees a total of 22,320 Malaysin pilgrims fulfilling the fifth pillar of Islam. -- Bernama