Tabung Haji support staff happy to serve Malaysians during Haj

MAKKAH: As about 300 Tabung Haji Support Staff are happy with Tabung Haji's terms of employment, they have chosen to remain faithful to the organisation, some for more than two decades.
Most of them are local residents originating from Thailand and Indonesia, and proficient in Bahasa Malaysia and Arabic.
"I have been in service with Tabung Haji for 26 years, and I assist the medical team during the Haj season," said Mustofa Bathul Bari, 52.
The local of Indonesian descent said his contract as support staff would be renewed by TH every year.
"I feel happy, and have never refused to serve Tabung Haji as I enjoy working with the organisation and also the Malaysian pilgrims who need our assistance," said Mustofa, who works as a hotel staff here when not on Haj duty.
Abdul Rahman Bayo, 40, a Malay-Thai descendent said he had served as support staff in the Masya'ir Operations division for 10 years.
He said the friendliness of Malaysians and being taken care of by TH, despite he being merely a temporary staff, had prompted him to remain with the organisation for so long.
"Malaysians (pilgrims) are good, and Tabung Haji also help us a lot during each Haj season," said the Al Azhar University graduate.
His friend, Hamdi Ismail Baheh, 39, who is also of Malay-Thai descent said he had thus far, served with TH as part-time support staff at the resident colleges for 16 years.
He said the friendly nature of Malaysians had attracted him to work with TH.
"We have become like family, and after the pilgrimage season, I am always contacted by them," said the International Islamic University of Malaysia graduate.
Abdul Rahman and Hamdi Ismail are both staff of a Malaysian-owned Umrah services company.
Meanwhile, Musrifah Bukhari, 32, who has served as part-time support staff for five years now, hoped she would be picked for many more years to come.
"It is not that we don't want to work with Haj agencies from other countries, but I feel very grateful to have served with Tabung Haji," said the hotel staff, who is of Indonesian descent. — Bernama