MECCA, July 22 (Bernama) -- The 20 per cent haj quota cut is meant for
this year and it is not certain whether it will continue until the
redevelopment of Mecca is completed in three years' time, said Southeast
Asia muassasah chairman Tan Sri Zuhair A. Sadayo.
Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=965225
Published: July 22, 2013
He said Saudi Arabia had to reduce the number of pilgrims from all over
the world this year to ensure the safety and comfort of pilgrims due to
the upgrading of haj facilities in the holy city which started in
November last year to cater for more pilgrims.
The redevelopment of Mecca also involves the expansion of Masjidil
Haram, including demolishing part of the Grand Mosque to extend the
prayer space and to enable the Kaabah to be visible from a distance, he
told a news conference here today.
The 'mataf', an area around the Kaabah, will also be expanded to enable
the number of pilgrims performing the tawaf (circumbulation) to increase
to 130,000 from 48,000, he said, adding however, it could accommodate
only 22,000 pilgrims this year due to the construction work.
"Apart from cutting haj quota of all countries by 20 per cent, the Saudi
government also reduced its pilgrims by 50 per cent for the safety of
all pilgrims.
"When the project is completed, we will get back the original quota," he
said, adding that the Grand Mosque expansion was the first of the three
phases of the Mecca redevelopment project.
Zuhair said the Saudi government would produce a documentary film on the
Masjidil Haram expansion and distribute it to agencies involved for
screening to the public.
He said a high-speed train project linking Mecca to Medina, which would
cut travelling time for haj pilgrimage and umrah from five hours by road
for a distance of about 500km, would be completed in 2015.
On haj transportation this year, he said the Saudi government hired
three more bus companies to increase the number of buses ferrying the
pilgrims.
Haj personnel involved in looking after the needs of muassasah pilgrims
will undergo 23 types of training on various aspects, he added.
-- BERNAMA
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