As Malaysian haj pilgrims start returning home, TH staff still hard at work

MAKKAH: Malaysian haj pilgrims will begin returning home, starting today, and the once-in-a-lifetime experience of performing the religious pilgrimage will surely be etched in their memories for a long time.

For the staff of Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) in Makkah and Madinah, the operation to look after the guests of Allah in the Holy Land is still not over until all the pilgrims reach Malaysia safely.

A check by Bernama found that during this year's haj season, TH staff, who are the backbone of the pilgrims, always provide the best service, even when it exceeds their duties.

With the goal of ensuring that the pilgrims were able to perform the fifth pillar of Islam, all staff, including in administration, operations, media and medicine, have been working together so that every plan can be executed in the best possible way.

Recalling the journey to bring all the pilgrims to Arafah, the medical staff were certainly among those who have been extremely busy managing those who needed treatment and care, not to mention some of them had to be managed carefully due to their inability to move.

Medical officer, Luqman Chong Abdullah Chong, said that on the 8th of Zulhijjah, he commenced work as early as 4 am to wake up male patients to get ready and wear ihram.

Luqman, who has had the opportunity to work during three haj seasons, said that the moment he helped patients putting on ihram has always been the most touching experience because the average person would cry and express their feelings about the tragedy that befell them when they came to the Holy Land in good health.

"This year in my ward, there are nine patients, namely five men and four women, who needed to take a bus or Wukuf Safari to perform the wuquf ritual in the plains of Arafah.

"The majority of patients suffer from heart problems, some also suffer from kidney problems, bacterial infections and chronic back pain, so that they cannot move on their own and just lie in bed. These patients really need full assistance to move around," he said when contacted by Bernama.

He added that the things he did were very small compared with the perseverance that patients had to endure, especially when listening to their prayers, pain and grief upon arrival in Arafah.

Apart from that, according to TH, a total of 24 Malaysian pilgrims are still being treated at the hospitals of the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia and the TH Medical Centre in Makkah.

However, of the total, only two cases involved further treatment. Such a situation definitely requires the monitoring of TH staff, because they need care until they are healthy, as well as in planning their flight schedule to return home.

Meanwhile, one of the pilgrims, Ahmad Ainullutfi Azzman, 29, said that TH staff, especially at Maktab 46, have always given their best until some forgot that they were unwell themselves.

"Some of them still helped out the patients even though they themselves were suffering from fever. There were days when they couldn't even get up but still made sure the pilgrims were always comfortable. Also, when we were in Muzdalifah, I volunteered as Sahabat Maktab, to conduct patrolling with the staff from midnight to dawn.

"After Muzdalifah, we then moved to Mina, to arrange the tents for the pilgrims. Initially, there was a commotion when pilgrims fought for space. However, after the placement was arranged with the cooperation of the pilgrims, there were extra spaces. That demonstrates the importance of the role of staff, and to avoid all kinds of problems," said Ahmad Ainullutfi, who came to the Holy Land alone on the KT1 flight.

Leaving home for Malaysia today, he said that the memories of the pilgrimage will be etched in his memory and the opportunity to help the elderly will be the impetus for him to continue to do good in the future.

-- BERNAMA