Kuala lumpur: Preparations for Malaysian pilgrims to the Holy Land for the 2026 haj season are well in place, with the first flight scheduled for April 18 proceeding as planned, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Zulkifli stated that his recent visit to Makkah and Madinah revealed that Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) has made better preparations compared to previous years. He shared his experiences from an official visit to Madinah, where he held a meeting with Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Tawfiq Fawzan Al-Rabiah. This meeting was attended by religious affairs ministers and hajj ministers from around the world.

Dr Zulkifli confirmed that haj operations will proceed as planned, emphasizing the detailed planning carried out and the high level of preparation achieved by TH. He spoke at a press conference following the University MAIWP International (UniMAIWP) Proclamation and 16th Convocation Ceremony.

He also highlighted that TH has a solid contingency plan in place to address any unforeseen changes, indicating confidence in their ability to adapt to any potential challenges. Dr Zulkifli expressed hope that this year's haj will proceed smoothly and that all pilgrims will adhere to the planned arrangements.