The first group of around 1,000 Malaysian Haj pilgrims will arrive on Aug. 27, according to Malaysian Embassy Minister Counselor Alauddin Mohd. Nor.

“The first group is part of the 22,320 pilgrims who will come for the annual Haj. Their total is 20 percent lesser than the original 27,900,” Nor, who is also the deputy head of mission, told Arab News on Thursday.

Nor, who joined the foreign service in 2000, has been the charge d’affaires of the Malaysian Embassy since former Malaysian Ambassador Syed Datuk Omar Al-Saggaf left last year. His replacement has not yet been appointed.

Nor said that the number of Malaysian pilgrims this year was reduced due to ongoing construction work at the Grand Mosque at Makkah.

“My government hopes that the quota of 27,900 Malaysian pilgrims coming to the Kingdom for Haj will soon be restored,” he said, noting that a similar number of Malaysian pilgrims last came in 2012.

The diplomat thanked the Saudi leadership for the assistance extended to Malaysian pilgrims whenever they come to the Kingdom for the annual religious ritual.

“We thank the Ministry of Haj for improving transportation, accommodation and catering facilities, in addition to the way pilgrims are guided as they perform their rituals,” said Nor, who had earlier been posted in Uzbekistan.

He said that his country’s health ministry takes precautions through the Tabung Haji (Malaysian Haj Fund Agency) and closely coordinates with the Saudi government.