MAKKAH: Malaysia is one of the first countries to receive the Nusuk card from Saudi Arabia for the haj season this year.
The Nusuk card is a new identity card for Haj and Umrah pilgrims, which aims to enhance the efficiency of the operations during the Haj season to facilitate the pilgrimage and reduce the number of individuals performing the Haj illegally.
It is designed to be automatically readable and facilitate Haj workers in identifying and verifying the identity of each pilgrim, helping to prevent unauthorised individuals from entering the Holy Land (of Makkah) and thereby protecting the safety of the pilgrims.
Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) started distributing the cards to pilgrims for this year's haj season in stages immediately after the cards were launched yesterday.
The launch ceremony was officiated by the head of the Malaysian haj delegation, Datuk Seri Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman together with representatives from the Masyariq company who managed the application and activated the card.
According to Syed Saleh, Malaysia was one of the first countries to do so in order to streamline the process and increase security measures for pilgrims.
"The card has comprehensive information on personal data including passports and visas to enable pilgrims to be identified easily, in addition to benefiting from various services. It also has information on the location of the congregation as well as places of worship commonly visited by the congregation," he said.
A total of 20 pilgrims received the card during the symbolic handing over of the Nusuk cards to Malaysian pilgrims.
"Malaysian pilgrims are advised to carry and use this Nusuk card at all times because it also serves as an official identification document that allows pilgrims to enter places of worship in the Holy Land including the Prophet's Mosque, Masjidil Haram, Arafah, Muzdalifah and Mina.
"Alhamdulillah, the Government of Saudi Arabia always continues efforts to improve their services to further enrich the experience of God's guests from all over the world.
"TH is confident that this new initiative will provide added value to the national congregation in terms of smooth movement including safety," he added.