KUALA LUMPUR: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah left for Mecca on Wednesday (June 21) to perform the haj.
Accompanying Their Majesties was Pahang Regent Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as well as Melaka Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohd Ali Rustam were present at the Istana Negara to wish Their Majesties a safe journey.
Also present were Defence Force Chief Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.
Federal Territory Mufti Datuk Prof Madya Dr Luqman Abdullah led the prayers, while Istana Negara Islamic Affairs assistant Mohd Mustafidurrohman Mohd Syahroni recited the azan (call to prayers).
Before leaving, Al-Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah shook hands with Istana Negara staff.
Their Majesties are scheduled to be in Mecca until July 2.
The government of Saudi Arabia announced that Wukuf day, which is the pinnacle of the haj ritual, is on Tuesday, June 27, while Aidiladha is on Wednesday, June 28.
Muslims in Malaysia will celebrate Aidiladha on June 29. – Bernama
