Malaysia has just completed its special Hajj flight operations under the Makkah Route initiative, which featured Saudi hospitality for many pilgrims. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and 31,600 Malaysians participated this year. The last Hajj flight carried 284 pilgrims from Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Wednesday afternoon. Anuar bin Ahmad, deputy director of field operations for Tabung Haji, Malaysia’s Hajj pilgrims fund board, expressed gratitude for the Makkah Route initiative. The Saudi Arabia-led initiative was launched in 2019 and also covers six other Muslim-majority countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Morocco, Turkiye, and Cote d’Ivoire.
On the same note, many pilgrims have expressed their satisfaction with the smooth process, which includes fulfilling all visa, customs, and health requirements at the airport of origin, saving long hours of waiting. Upon arrival, pilgrims can enter the Kingdom after undergoing visa and customs processes back home. Some Malaysian pilgrims shared their experiences, expressing their appreciation for the initiative that made everything easier. Young Malaysian doctor Aazhimah binti Othman, said that the process was smooth, thanks to the Makkah Route initiative, and they didn’t have to wait long. Meanwhile, for lecturer Zulhan bin Othman, who will be performing Hajj pilgrimage for the first time, the initiative is wonderful as they can just go directly to their hotel as if they were Saudi citizens.
In conclusion, Malaysia’s special Hajj flight operations have been successful, and the pilgrims have expressed their gratitude to the Saudi government for the initiative that made their journey to Makkah and Madinah easier. With the Makkah Route Initiative, pilgrims can fulfill all visa, customs, and health requirements at the airport of origin and enter the Kingdom after undergoing visa and customs processes back home.
