Tabung Haji services for pilgrims have improved tremendously, says dentist

Dr Samsiah Hamidon, 63, a dentist who went on her first haj pilgrimage 16 years ago with her husband, Ab Rahim Saleh, 64, a telecommunication engineer, and now back for the second time with her four children and a daughter-in-law, said the rooms were better.

"Even the food is aplenty, enough to feed all the pilgrims", she told the Malaysian media at her 'maktab' (accommodation) at the Qasr Al Janadiriyyah Hotel in Makkah.

However, the owner of a dental clinic in Subang Jaya said there were still areas where TH could further improve its services, especially on the haj registration system.

She said TH should inform pilgrims on the necessary documents, including visa, which they had to produce for the haj registration, in advance, instead of informing the pilgrims in stages.

This, she said, was because of problems she encountered in getting ready the documents when requested by TH as two of her children -- Dr Nina Farahana Saleha, 25, a dentist in Sarawak and Muhammad Arif Saleh, 26, an architect in Johor, were not staying with her.

"Luckily, when TH needed their thumb prints for the visa application, they were home for the Hari Raya holidays. Otherwise, it would be a problem," she said.

Also with Dr Samsiah on this haj pilgrimage are Aditya Adri Saleh, 38, Aisyatul Aizzura Saleha, 34, and Sharifah Khatijah Syed Mustaffa, 32, who is Aditya Adri Saleh's wife.

Although all of them were not placed in the same room, they were given two rooms, but on the same floor, she added.

Despite some inconveniences, Dr Samsiah said she was happy to be back in the holy land for her second haj pilgrimage with her children, though sad that her husband could not be with them.

What made this year's pilgrimage more meaningful, said Dr Samsiah, was that she, Sharifah Khatijah and Dr Nina Farhana Saleha would be celebrating their birthdays there.