KUCHING: The Sarawak Governor Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi officiated the Sarawak Pilgrims' Departure Ceremony at a leading hotel in Kuching on Thursday.

During the ceremony, the couple had the opportunity to interact with and bid farewell to 133 Dhuyufurrahman from Sarawak, who will continue their next leg of their journey at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

Upon arrival at KLIA, the pilgrims will join other prospective pilgrims from the Klang Valley before continuing their journey to the Holy Land aboard a special Amal by Malaysia Airlines flight at 12:05 am.

They are expected to arrive in Medina at 3:50 am Saudi Arabian time on the same day.

This group is part of a total of 986 pilgrims from Sarawak selected to perform the fifth pillar of Islam during this year's Haj season.

For the record, flights to the Holy Land will take place from 18 April to 20 May 2026, while return flights are scheduled between 4 and 30 June 2026.

Also in attendance were the Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Project Coordinator for Regional Development Agencies, DBKU and Islamic Affairs) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Sarawak Mufti Datu Khalidi Ibrahim, Tabung Haji Head of Integrity and Governance Mohd Hasraff Hashim, Tabung Haji Director for Sarawak and Sabah Region Datuk Nurlaila Said and other distinguished guests.-UKASnews

Prepared by: Ahmad Daniel Faiz
Translator: Sarah Nicole Hii
Photo by: Muhd Zulfadli Ahmad Sharir