Bandar Seri Begawan - Being healthy is vital to ensuring a hassle-free haj experience as the journey is a gruelling and challenging feat, said Haj officers from Darussalam Holding Snd Bhd before departing for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia yesterday evening.

Hj Muhd Rasimoon Hj Adinin, Deputy Head of the Delegation for the Darussalam Haj Package and Hj Zainal Arifin Hj Emran an officer from the agency, stated that pilgrims need to be prepared for the journey ahead by maintaining good health and keeping up their stamina.

Hj Muhd Rasimoon advised pilgrims to ensure that they have all their prescribed medications.

Both officers explained that due to the large numbers of people performing the pilgrim, they should also observe patience as travel time is sure to increase.

"The coaches are arranged by the Haj Council in Saudi Arabia but it can still be a long wait. The journey from

Medinah to Mekah usually takes five to six hours, but can stretch up to eight hours if you factor in the waiting time. Everyone needs to be prepared for delays and be patient," stated Hj Zainal Arifin.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has seven officers in Saudi Arabia taking care of all administration matters, with a further 26 members belonging to the medical team.

According to Acting Director of Haj Affairs Hj Harun Hj Junid, the medical team will be mobile, moving around from place to place with the pilgrims from Brunei.

The country's contingent initially stood at approximately 1,300 but this number has reduced to around 750, due to age and health restrictions imposed by the Ministry of Health to protect against the Influenza A/H1N1 global pandemic.

Four chartered RBA flights are expected to ferry the pilgrims directly to Medinah from November 3 to 6, omitting the long journey from Jeddah to Medinah.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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