MECCA: Tabung Haji plans to display the TH logo at all the buildings it owns or leases in the Holy Land for pilgrims, management and accommodation.
TH chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim said the prominent placement of the logo would enable easy identification of the buildings by pilgrims staying there.
“It is also good exposure for the TH brand to the international community, who recognise TH as one of the role models in Haj management,” Azeez said at a press conference after a lease extension signing ceremony between the pilgrims fund and Al-Rawda Investment for Real Estate Development & Projects Management Ltd. (Al-Rawda).
The agreement was signed by 1438H Malaysian Haj delegation head Datuk Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman and Al-Rawda chairman Dr Mashhhour Ali Al Madodi.
Also present were deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof, ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan and Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, TH managing director and CEO Datuk Seri Johan Abdullah, and TH board members.
The agreement is to extend the lease to TH of two hotels owned by Al-Rawda in Madinah — the five star 606-room Al-Haram and four star 227-room Al-Saha — for another 10 years until 2028.
Azeez said Al-Rawda had also agreed for all five of its properties leased to TH to be the first that will display the TH logo.
“We have started the process of getting approval of the local councils so that we can display our logo at all the other buildings,” he added.
For this year’s Haj season, TH is using 24 buildings to accommodate pilgrims in Mecca, and 11 buildings in Madinah.
In the case of Al-Haram and Al-Saha in Madinah, Azeez said both properties are strategically located 100m (a 10-minute walk) from the Prophet’s Mosque.
“Al-Rawda has also agreed to maintain the lease rate for the next 10 years at the same level that we have been paying so far. TH will therefore benefit from fixed accommodation cost for pilgrims during haj season,” he added.
Azeez said for the proposed TH Complexes to be built in Mecca and Madinah — which would house all Malaysian pilgrims under one roof — the preferred locations should be less than 500m from the two holy mosques.
“If all goes well, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is expected to visit the Holy Land in December, and we hope at that time he will witness the signing ceremony for the TH Complex as well as launch the TH logo for all our buildings,” he added.
Azeez also thanked Najib for securing the additional allocation and other efforts to help pilgrims.
“It was also the prime minister’s vision to have the TH Complexes, and for Malaysia to test the pre-departure clearance for pilgrims (at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport). This is a clear sign of the close ties between Saudi Arabia and Malaysia,” he said.