Pix: Sinar HarianMECCA: Approximately 14,700 or 53 per cent out of the total 28,000 Malaysian haj pilgrims have arrived in the Holy Land so far, according to the head of the Malaysian groups of pilgrims, Datuk Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman. 

"As at today, 42 haj flights had departed from Malaysia. We are expecting the departure of 35 more haj plights carrying Malaysian pilgrims soon," he told reporters at the Tabung Haji headquarters here. 

Syed Saleh also said Tabung Haji was also grateful as none of the Malaysian pilgrims were reported to have been infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) detected in Saudi Arabia. 

"Tabung Haji has convened a meeting with the Saudi Arabian Health Ministry Contagious Disease Division director and was informed that there was no need to worry as none of the pilgrims who arrived in the country were infected with the corona virus which causes SARS," he said. 

Overall, he said the health cases referred to the Tabung Haji clinics in the Holy Land only involved common illness, such as flu, coughing and skin irritation. 



- Bernama