MAKKAH: The Saudi Arabian government establishes and determines the boundaries in Mina, resulting in a limited allocation of tent sites for each country during this year's haj season.
The head of the Malaysian haj delegation for 1445H/2024, Datuk Seri Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman, said that the cramped conditions of the tents in Mina are beyond the control of Tabung Haji (TH) because each country has been allocated a specific area of land based on the Hajj quota provided by the Saudi Arabian government.
"No matter whether it is one million, five million, or ten million pilgrims who come, the area remains the same. The quota of 31,600 pilgrims allocated is proportional to the area provided by the Hajj and Umrah Ministry of Saudi Arabia. Every year, we try our best for the comfort of Malaysian pilgrims," he said in a speech at an appreciation ceremony for 315 'Sahabat Maktab' volunteers at the TH headquarters here yesterday.
Sahabat Maktab is TH's volunteer programme that has been running since 2006. Under this initiative, pilgrims who apply to become a 'sahabat' volunteer to help serve other pilgrims and facilitate their needs.
Syed said TH constantly makes improvements from time to time, including adding air conditioners, providing thicker carpets, and installing ceramic tiles in the tent sites.
"Many pilgrims complain about the limited number of toilets. TH has submitted a request to enhance these facilities, but the Saudi Arabian government has informed us that if the number of toilets is increased, the space for the tents will become smaller," he said.
Therefore, he said, TH will propose increasing the number of multi-story toilets currently available, as well as the proposal to build multi-story tents.
Meanwhile, at the event, Syed expressed appreciation towards the 315 Sahabat Maktab volunteers who represent nine maktabs, consisting of three categories: Sahabat Hujjaj (general), Sahabat Ibadat (worship), and Sahabat Medik (medical), who provide their services voluntarily without any compensation.
"We are very grateful that in addition to having a workforce of 670 haj staff, we are pleased and happy to have additional manpower from among the Sahabat Maktab," he said.
He also praised the attitude shown by the Sahabat Maktab volunteers in performing their duties with patience in serving the pilgrims and their dedication, including sacrificing their time for worship and prayer during wukuf (standing prayer) in Arafah.
They assist TH staff, especially during the arrival of flight groups at the maktabs, cleanliness campaigns, masyair (movement of pilgrims en masse from Makkah to Arafah, Muzdalifah and Mina) operations, food distribution, 'head counts' after returning from Mina, and necessary medical treatments, all of which require high commitment and patience.
At the event, Syed also launched the Sahabat Maktab logo, which was introduced for the first time since its establishment in 2006.