Health screening essential to performing haj this season

Would-be pilgrims, who failed health screenings by Tabung Haji (TH) will not be allowed to perform the haj to prevent them from being infected by the Middle East respiratory syndrome-corona virus (MERS-CoV), which took two lives in Saudi Arabia to date.

TH chairman Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim said TH would take precautionary measures to combat the disease, including stationing Malaysian medical specialists to assist pilgrims there.

Pilgrims found not feeling well while performing haj would be given medical assistance, he told reporters after meeting children of a Permata Insan programme to Saudi Arabia at Seri Perdana here on Thursday.

Also present were the Prime Minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who is also the patron of Permata programme, TH group managing director and board chief executive officer Datuk Paduka Ismee Ismail, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Asma Ismail and Permata Insan director Prof Datuk Dr Mizan Adiliah Ahmad Ibrahim.