4,564 Kedah pilgrims to get one-off contribution of RM500

ALOR SETAR: A total of 4,564 haj pilgrims from Kedah who are registered with Tabung Haji (TH) will get a one-off contribution of RM500 each from the state government.
Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said the contribution, which amounted to more than RM2.28 million, would be given in cash to the pilgrims at the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport (LTSAH) before they were to board their flight.
"A total of 2,785 pilgrims leaving for the pilgrimage from LTSAH from Aug 12 to 17 will receive the money from me or other members of the state executive council on the day of their departure.
"For the remaining 1,779 pilgrims who have left or will be leaving through other airports, the money will be banked into their Tabung Haji accounts," he told reporters after chairing the state executive council meeting at Wisma Darul Aman here today.
He said 275 pilgrims from Perlis leaving from LTSAH would also receive the one-off contribution from the Kedah government.
Ahmad Bashah said the contribution was aimed at lightening the burden and expenses of the pilgrims in the Holy Land.
"We have given contributions before for haj pilgrims, but in different forms such as sarongs, prayer clothes, and bags which the pilgrims used over there," he said.
Ahmad Bashah reminded the haj pilgrims to abide by the instructions given by TH to ensure that their pilgrimage was smooth.
On a separate development, Ahmad Bashah said Malaysia Airports Holding Bhd (MAHB) had agreed to expand the Langkawi International Airport terminal to accommodate the increase in the number of tourists arriving on the island.
The Federal Government has allocated RM80 million for the purpose, he added. — Bernama