From Hafizah Kamaruddin
MADINAH, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- The government of Saudi Arabia has made various improvements for this year's haj pilgrims, including expanding the haj arrival area at its international airport and providing air conditioning for the comfort of the pilgrims.
Malaysian Consul General to Saudi Arabia Mohd Khalid Abbasi Abdul Razak said the Saudi Government had also brought in 9,000 new buses to cater for the movement of the pilgrims during this year's haj.
In Madinah, in an effort to assist 1.4 million haj pilgrims from abroad, the Saudi government has set up voluntary groups 'tour guides' who are able to communicate in seven to eight foreign languages, he told Malaysian media after receiving the first batch of 450 Malaysian pilgrims at the Anwar Al Madinah Movenpick HOTEL here Wednesday.
In accommodating the senior citizens in Madinah, the Saudi government has also set up buggy services to ferry them from the entrance of the Prophet's Mosque to the door of the mosque, and this will benefit the 31 per cent of 22,320 Malaysian pilgrims who are above 65 years old.
He expressed Malaysia's gratitude for the various efforts carried out by the Saudi government in ensuring comfort for the pilgrims this year.
Mohd Khalid said the expansion programme at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah will increase the sitting capacity from the current 800,000 to 1.2 million when completed next year.
The mosque has also been spruced up with new carpet and free flow of zam-zam water brought in from Makkah, he added.
While in Masjidilharam in Makkah, the Saudi government has also expanded the praying areas, its toilet facilities and security.
He said the Saudi government under King Abdullah's leadership had been forward thinking in its aggressive development project of the Holy City to cater for the ever increasing number of pilgrims.
He said with the completion of the first high-speed passenger railway line between Makkah and Madinah (Haramain High Speed Rail), it will further reduce time to travel and the traffic congestion during the haj session.
The 480km railway line will pass through the port city of Jeddah, reducing travelling time between Makkah and Madinah by two hours from the current four hours.
-- BERNAMA
