PETALING JAYA: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah wants Muslims in Malaysia to remain united and to set aside their differences.
“Muslims in this country should also be concerned about the situation faced by their brethren in the turbulent countries by extending aid and praying for their wellbeing.”
The king said this in his speech at a ceremony at the Tabung Haji Complex in Kelana Jaya here to bid farewell to the third batch of 279 haj pilgrims leaving for the Holy Land.
Present were Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom and Saudi Arabia ambassador to Malaysia Fahad Abdullah Al Rashid.
The king also linked the fifth tenet of Islam (performing haj) to Muslim unity as it taught them to be tolerant and mutually helpful, regardless of colour, culture, language and customs. He said only through this could there be unity of the ummah in facing difficulties in upholding Islam.
Tuanku Abdul Halim said Muslims in Malaysia should be grateful as they were able to live in peace and perform their religious obligations without any hindrance.
He advised Malaysian pilgrims to observe good personal hygiene and of their surroundings while in the Holy Land. He also advised them to follow the directives of the Saudi Arabian authorities and instructions from Tabung Haji to ensure their safety and smooth performance of haj.
Jamil Khir said there would be 64 flights taking 22,320 pilgrims to the Holy Land this year.