SHAH ALAM, April 12 — Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj has called on prospective haj pilgrims to spend prudently in the Holy Land amid global economic uncertainties.
His Royal Highness urged the pilgrims to focus on their worship and remain patient in facing any trials, difficulties and challenges they may encounter.
“I would like to remind pilgrims of the need to take care of their health, avoid wastefulness, control their spending and practise thrift, especially in light of the current global economic volatility.
“Focus on fulfilling the obligatory acts of worship, and reduce shopping and spending while in the Holy Land,” said His Royal Highness at the opening ceremony of the Selangor Premier Haj Course for the 2026 pilgrimage season held here today.
The event, attended by more than 5,900 participants, was held at Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah.
Meanwhile, Sultan Sharafuddin advised prospective pilgrims to make full use of the facilities provided by Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH).
The Ruler also reminded prospective pilgrims not to use unknown or unverified agencies, as this could expose them to fraud and deception.
In addition, the Sultan urged prospective pilgrims to be disciplined while in the Holy Land and to uphold the good name of Selangor and Malaysia by complying with the regulations set by the Saudi government.
“Prospective pilgrims are also advised to avoid getting involved in any form of protest or demonstration,” said the Ruler.
Earlier, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Zulkifli Hasan, who was also present at the event, reminded prospective pilgrims to remain vigilant and comply with all instructions set by TH following geopolitical developments in West Asia.
“The Malaysian government and TH will continue to monitor the current situation and work closely with the Saudi authorities to ensure the safety and welfare of Malaysian pilgrims are always safeguarded,” he said.
Meanwhile, on the Premier Haj Course, Zulkifli said it is being held in stages nationwide from April 3 and not only focuses on worship, but emphasises discipline, time management and compliance with regulations throughout the stay in the Holy Land.
For this year, more than 8,000 prospective pilgrims from Selangor are expected to perform haj in stages from April 18 to May 20, while return flights from the Holy Land are scheduled between June 4 and 30.
A hundred chartered flights have been arranged to transport 31,600 Malaysian pilgrims to the Holy Land this year.
