PROMOTE STATE AND COUNTRY, PLIGRIMS URGED

By HAMDAN RAJA ABDULLAH

TANGKAK: The Johor government wants Muslims who perform the pilgrimage to Mecca very year to act as ambassadors in promoting the state and country.

Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said they would meet people from different countries in Mecca and Medina and take the opportunity to promote Malaysia’s peaceful and harmonious life.

He said they should know what others thought of Malaysia and Johor and how Muslims in other parts of the world regarded Islam in Malaysia.

Gesture of goodwill: Hamim (left) presenting gifts to one of the 169 pilgrims in Tangkak recently.

“I know they have little time to do other things as they are focused on performing the haj rituals.

“But, there are millions of Muslims gathering in Mecca and we should take the opportunity to know them and talk about our country and way of life,” he said when bidding farewell to 169 villagers who will leave for Mecca soon.

Abdul Ghani’s speech was delivered by his representative, Ledang MP Hamim Samuri.

Abdul Ghani said, although the pilgrimage was a religious ritual, pilgrims should take the opportunity to look at Malaysia from the outside.

He advised pilgrims to take good care of their health and look after their spouses or family members who went with them to Mecca.

“It is important for us to stay healthy as we may not be able to perform strenuous rituals if we became ill,” he added.

“Besides gifts contributed by the Ledang Umno division, the 169 pilgrims were treated to a lunch of nasi minyak with mutton and chicken curry.

SOURCE: THE STAR, Thursday November 27, 2008