MEDINA: Tabung Haji (TH) has established an understanding with Saudi Telecommunications Company (STC) for easier registration of prepaid simcards that can be used by Malaysian haj pilgrims to stay connected with their families back home.
Through this understanding, Malaysian pilgrims can use their identification tags to register for STC simcards at any booth or kiosk located near haj accommodations in Medina and Mecca.
“The passport number printed on the identification tag will be used for the registration process,” Nurrin Anuwar Shamsuddin, deputy head (pilgrims’ welfare) of the 1438H Malaysian haj season, said in a statement.
STC staff will also scan a fingerprint of the haj pilgrim at the booth. The price for the STC prepaid simcard is 30 Saudi Rial, with installed credit of SR25.
“STC staff will help the pilgrims insert the prepaid simcards into their mobile phones to activate the line. Once activation is done at the booth itself, the haj pilgrims can use their mobile phones to call their relatives back home,” he added.
Nurrin Anuwar said the process is different from the other Saudi telco companies as additional information such as passport and haj visa details are required.
“Those planning to subscribe with Saudi telcos other than STC should snap and keep photos or copies of their personal details and haj visa pages from their passports.
“This is because upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, haj pilgrims are required to hand over their passports to the local haj authority (Muassasah),” he said.
Nurrin Anuwar said for now, haj pilgrims are encouraged to use the STC services, as the process of buying a prepaid simcard is much easier.
Meanwhile, Telekom Malaysia Bhd is also offering its i-Talk service for haj pilgrims to make calls to Malaysia at affordable rates of SR1 per minute. The i-Talk service is available at all hotels and buildings where Malaysia haj pilgrims are staying.