Tag: umrah

  • Alternative Return Flights Arranged For Singaporeans In Mecca; May Be Used For Future Pilgrimages

    Alternative Return Flights Arranged For Singaporeans In Mecca; May Be Used For Future Pilgrimages

    Close to 300 Singaporeans who are in Mecca for umrah, a minor pilgrimage, are scheduled to return on alternative airlines, after Qatar Airways’ licence was revoked by Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

    Mr Mustafa Jumat, vice-president of the Association of Muslim Travel Agents Singapore (Amtas), told The Straits Times yesterday that most Singaporeans have settled their return flight details. They also did not experience any major disruptions to their travel plans.

    “Qatar Airways assisted them and directed them to alternative airlines,” said Mr Jumat. Some of these alternatives include Malaysia Airlines, Etihad Airways and Emirates.

    Although the schedules of Singaporeans in Mecca are largely unaffected, their return flight routes will differ, with different stopovers.

    The disruptions started on Tuesday, when Saudi Arabia revoked Qatar Airways’ licences and ordered it to close its offices within 48 hours.

    The move came amid a diplomatic rift between Qatar and a powerful bloc in the Arab world – Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – who are accusing it of supporting terrorism across the region.

    On its website, Qatar Airways indicated that all flights to the four states will be suspended “until further notice”.

    Should the ban continue, Mr Jumat said that alternative travel plans may be required for groups scheduled to go on pilgrimages in October and November this year.

     

    Source: http://www.tnp.sg/

  • Pilgrims To Fly In Style With Malaysia Airlines’ Six Haj Charter Jets

    Pilgrims To Fly In Style With Malaysia Airlines’ Six Haj Charter Jets

    Malaysia Airlines Bhd’s (MAB) chief executive Peter Bellew has revealed more details on the flag carrier’s plan to offer charter flights for Muslims to perform the Haj and Umrah pilgrimages in Saudi Arabia.

    In an interview with CNN Money, Bellew said six Airbus A380 jetliners will be retired from service and refurbished to include prayer areas and ablution rooms for its passengers.

    “I think this will be the greatest turnaround in the history of aviation and maybe even of any business,” Bellew was quoted saying.

    Bellew said the jumbo jets will carry 715 passengers, compared to 525 people in the usual three-class configuration or 853 in an all-economy class configuration.

    “We are trying to capture 5 to 6 per cent of the global market, which is growing all the time,” said Bellew, a former executive at low-cost Irish carrier Ryanair.

    “People save to go to this for up to 30 years, and we’ve got great interest in the product already.”

    In Malaysia, most Muslims fund their pilgrimages using deposits in Lembaga Tabung Haji, and adhere to a national quota imposed by the Saudi kingdom. The wait could take decades before they actually perform the pilgrimage.

    Last month, Bellew said MAB could form a new airline to serve the Haj and Umrah charter market.

    “Interviews for key positions, for this airline, have already been initiated with plans underway with Airbus to increase the seat capacity to 720 seats on aircraft,” he told state news agency Bernama.

    The airline said it recorded a stronger performance in the fourth quarter of last year on the back of higher bookings and driven by a greater focus on the premium business traveller as well as all-inclusive economy fares.

     

    Rilek1Corner

    Source: http://www.themalaymailonline.com

  • Suami Isteri Berbasikal Ke Makkah Sudah Lepasi 11 Negara, Tinggal 1 Negara Untuk Sampai Destinasi

    Suami Isteri Berbasikal Ke Makkah Sudah Lepasi 11 Negara, Tinggal 1 Negara Untuk Sampai Destinasi

    Sepasang suami isteri Melayu yang sedang dalam perjalanan menunaikan ibadah umrah dengan sekadar mengayuh basikal sahaja, bakal mencapai hajat mereka tidak lama lagi setelah mengembara sembilan bulan lamanya.

    Ya, pasangan rakyat Malaysia itu – Encik Ahmad Mohd Isa, 27 tahun dan isterinya Noradilah Mohd Sapie, 28 tahun memilih untuk mengayuh kenderaan dua roda itu sahaja ke tanah suci.

    Sebelum ini, pasangan itu dilaporkan nekad mencabar keupayaan mereka melakukan ekspedisi berbasikal ‘Kembara Memburu Hikmah’ (KMH), dengan mengayuh basikal dari Malaysia ke Makkah sejauh 17,000 kilometer.

    Setelah bertolak dari Malaysia, mereka perlu melalui 13 buah negara lain dalam tempoh sembilan hingga 12 bulan – iaitu Thailand, Myanmar, India, Nepal, Pakistan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran, UAE, sebelum menjejakkan kaki ke Arab Saudi selaku negara ke-13.

    Encik Ahmad Mohd Isa dan isterinya Noradilah Mohd Sapie ketika di Khazakhstan.

    TINGGAL 1 NEGARA UNTUK SAMPAI MAKKAH

    Dalam wawancara menerusi kiriman emel dengan BERITAMediacorp, pasangan itu memberitahu bahawa mereka kini sudah berada di Afghanistan, negara ke-11 daripada 12 negara yang perlu dilalui. Ini bermakna tinggal lagi 1 negara perlu direntasi sebelum tiba di Arab Saudi.

    “Alhamdulillah, selama 27 hari kami di Uzbekistan iaitu dari 11 Disember 2016 hingga 6 Januari 2017, sekarang kami sudahpun berada di Afghanistan. Insya Allah, mengikut perancangan kami, perjalanan seterusnya (mengikut urutan) adalah Iran, Amiriah Arab Bersatu dan Arab Saudi,” kata mereka.

    Menurut Encik Ahmad dan Cik Noradilah, antara cabaran besar yang mereka lalui sepanjang pengembaraan itu adalah masalah komunikasi dengan masyarakat di sesebuah negara.

    “Bahasa yang mereka tuturkan seperti Urdu, Uighur, Parsi dan Bahasa tempatan lain tidak dapat diterjemahkan menggunakan mana-mana aplikasi di internet.

    “Mereka pula kebanyakannya tidak memahami bahasa Inggeris atau Arab. Maka ini menyulitkan komunikasi antara kami untuk saling bertukar-tukar pandangan,” pasangan itu memberitahu BERITAMediacorp.

    Encik Ahmad Mohd Isa dan isterinya Noradilah Mohd Sapie ketika di Kyrgystan.

    PERTAMA KALI BERBASIKAL PADA MUSIM SALJI

    Sungguhpun begitu, pengalaman yang diraih ada juga yang memberi kesan mendalam kepada pasangan yang memang ‘kaki basikal’ dan membesar dengan berbasikal daripada zaman sekolah hingga ke universiti.

    Di laman Facebook KMH, pasangan itu berkongsi “pengalaman hebat” ketika berbasikal pada musim salji di Kazakhstan – menerusi video yang dimuat naik – kerana itulah kali pertama mereka bergelumang dengan salji!

    Ternyata bukan mudah kerana mereka beberapa kali tergelincir. Namun menurut pasangan berkenaan ia “membuatkan hati mereka semakin kental untuk meneruskan perjalanan”.

    “MAKANAN TIDAK PUTUS-PUTUS”

    Selain itu layanan baik yang diterima cukup membuatkan mereka tersentuh.

    “Pelbagai bentuk layanan dan bantuan yang di luar jangkaan kami terima daripada insan-insan berhati mulia sepanjang perjalanan ini dan semuanya membuat kami tersentuh.

    “Sejak memasuki negara-negara ‘STAN’ (Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Kazahstan), rezeki dalam bentuk makanan tidak putus-putus. Kami tidak sempat untuk berasa lapar.

    “Setiap kali dijemput makan, makanan penuh terhidang atas meja, kata mereka, ini adalah adat budaya mereka untuk memanjakan tetamu dengan pelbagai jenis hidangan.

    “Semoga Allah merahmati hidup mereka yang memberikan bantuan, sokongan dan mendoakan kami sama ada kami tahu atau tidak. Setiap kebaikan itu ada balasan dan rahmat di sisiNya.”

    MAHU “SUJUD SYUKUR DEPAN KAABAH”

    Setelah sekitar sembilan bulan perjalanan mereka, iaitu sejak April 2016, kini Cik Noradilah dan suaminya semakin hampir ke destinasi utama, yang diidam-idamkan setelah sekian lama.

    Ketibaan mereka di Makkah nanti pasti menjadi satu detik bersejarah dalam kehidupan mereka dan tiada tolok bandingnya.

    BERITAMediacorp diberitahu sebaik sahaja menjejakkan kaki di Makkah, perkara pertama yang ingin dilakukan adalah “bersujud syukur di hadapan Kaabah”.

    RINDU DAKAP IBU BAPA

    Encik Ahmad dan Cik Noradilah dijangka berada di Makkah menunaikan umrah selama dua minggu sebelum pulang ke pangkuan keluarga tercinta di Malaysia.

    “Kami rindu sekali menjejakkan kaki ke tanah air sendiri selepas ke tanah suci Makkah dan Madinah. Selain itu kami juga rindu ingin mendakap kedua-dua ibu bapa kami yang tidak putus-putus mendoakan perjalanan kami agar sentiasa lancar dan selamat,” luah pasangan kembara ini.

    Encik Ahmad Mohd Isa dan isterinya Noradilah Mohd Sapie ketika di Nepal.

    Selain melakukan misi kemanusiaan di setiap negara yang dijelajah, pasangan suami isteri itu turut membawa cabaran merekod data berkaitan sejarah, budaya dan kehidupan masyarakat Islam.

    Turut mengiringi misi KMH itu ialah Mohd Nur Aiman Mohd Zaid, 27 tahun, dan Amirul Ariff Abd Wahab, 28, yang bertindak sebagai kru penggambaran video.

    Perkembangan semasa ekspedisi itu boleh diikuti melalui facebook Kembara Memburu Hikmah.

    Encik Ahmad dan Cik Noradilah yang berasal dari Selangor, dijangka menamatkan misi itu dan tiba di Masjidil Haram pada April 2017.

     

     

    Source: BeritaMediacorp

  • Singapore PR In Jordan ICU – Family Still Seeking Donations For $123,000 Medical Fees

    Singapore PR In Jordan ICU – Family Still Seeking Donations For $123,000 Medical Fees

    He fell after being pushed during a minor pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

    In the confusion, someone stepped on Mr Abdul Ghafur Mohd Ibrahim’s left ankle.

    Today, the 59-year-old bus driver is recovering in a hospital in Jordan, with his left leg amputated after it was infected by flesh-eating bacteria.

    Facing a rising medical bill that is at $123,000 currently, Mr Abdul Ghafar’s family is trying to raise money, along with the sum needed to repatriate him.

    His son-in-law Mohamad Ameen Said Abdul Kadir, 37, told The Straits Times on Monday: “We’re shocked that a small ankle injury could become so serious. We were heartbroken when we learnt he was infected by flesh-eating bacteria.”

    Mr Abdul Ghafur and his wife were part of a group that left Singapore on Dec 11 to perform their “umrah”.

    After his fall, and towards the end of the pilgrimage, he discovered big blisters on his left foot.

    As he was staying in Jordan then, he checked into Al Khalidi Hospital in Amman on Dec 23.

    For the next three days, doctors gave the Malaysia-born Singapore permanent resident antibiotics to control the infection on his ankle, which was oozing pus.

    Three members of Mr Abdul Ghafur’s family flew to Jordan on Dec 27 to keep his wife company.

    Despite the antibiotics, the infection continued to spread aggressively, said Mr Ameen, an operations manager.

    Mr Abdul Ghafur’s infection worsened after he developed high fever and low blood pressure and eventually, the left leg had to be amputated above the knee.

    Today, the bacterial infection appears to be contained, although Mr Abdul Ghafur remains in intensive care and is being supported by a ventilator.

    While he is recovering, his family has been saddled with a hefty medical bill.

    A copy of the 35-page medical bill and medical report was shown to ST.

    His 35-year-old daughter, who wanted to be known only as Madam Rabiathul, said “the medical fees are too high for us to cover”.

    Through contributions made by strangers who had seen the family’s plea for donations on social media, the family has managed to raise around $32,000, which is still not enough.

    They also expect the bill to increase.

    Mr Ameen felt the $55 travel insurance his father-in-law had paid as part of the “umrah” package was “inadequate”.

    ST understands that the travel insurance covers only $20,000 for hospitalisation and $50,000 for repatriation to Singapore.

    Mr Ameen said: “The cheapest quote to fly him back to Singapore with proper medical attention is around US$120,000 ($174,000).

    “And he is in no condition to fly.

    “What is important for the family right now is to generate as much funds as possible. We’re thankful some help is coming our way.”

    Mr Ameen said he had sought assistance from Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    The family is also looking into Mr Abdul Ghafur’s personal accident insurance plan, which has a clause for permanent disability.

    Mr Ameen said: “My father-in-law’s personal accident insurer needs to see him in Singapore where his condition will be examined and verified by the insurer’s doctor before any payout is made.”

    Mr Abdul Ghafur’s plight was intially brought to light by netizens, including Ms Rubiah Suib, a colleague of Madam Rabiathul, who had appealed for donations on her Facebook on Dec 28.

    Her post, which was one of many similar posts, was shared more than 500 times.

     

    Source: www.tnp.sg

  • Jemaah Umrah Yang Terkandas Masih Menanti Penerbangan Ke Tanah Suci

    Jemaah Umrah Yang Terkandas Masih Menanti Penerbangan Ke Tanah Suci

    NILAI: Seramai 200 jemaah umrah masih terus menanti peluang menjejakkan kaki ke Tanah Suci selepas kegagalan syarikat penerbangan sewa khas mendapatkan permit kebenaran mendarat pada Isnin (12 Dis).

    Seorang jemaah, A. Husaini Rahman, 41 tahun, yang ditempatkan di sebuah hotel di Nilai bersama jemaah lain berkata, sehingga kini mereka masih lagi tidak mendapat sebarang maklumat mengenai status penerbangan mereka.

    “Sehingga kini, kami masih belum menerima apa-apa berita, saya dan jemaah lain hanya berhubung dengan pihak Eagleexpress Al-Fajr melalui panggilan telefon dan aplikasi WhatsApp sahaja yang mana hanya menyatakan masih belum menerima sebarang arahan kelulusan untuk melakukan penerbangan,” katanya kepada Bernama semalam (14 Dis).

    “Saya dan jemaah lain bingung dan sebagai orang Islam kami beramai-ramai berdoa agar diberi petunjuk dan berharap mendapat perkhabaran baik dalam masa terdekat,” katanya.

    Media pada Isnin melaporkan kira-kira 200 jemaah umrah yang dijadual berlepas bagi mengerjakan umrah pada hari berkenaan terkandas selepas penerbangan mereka ditangguhkan berikutan permit kebenaran mendarat masih belum diperoleh syarikat penerbangan sewa khas itu untuk membawa rombongan berkenaan.

    Bagaimanapun, usaha untuk mendapatkan penjelasan lanjut daripada pihak Eaglexpress gagal.

    Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg