Medal-winning Paralympians depart for Saudi Arabia to perform umrah, courtesy of DRB-Hicom
NST
SEPANG: Four athletes who made Malaysia proud at the Rio Paralympic Games departed for Saudi Arabia today to perform the umrah (minor haj).
They will first visit the holy city of Madinah, before proceeding to Mecca to perform the umrah rites.
Their umrah packages are sponsored by DRB-Hicom Bhd as a reward for their achievements in winning gold and bronze medals for the country.
Gold medallists Mohamad Ridzuan Mohd Fuzi, Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli and Abdul Latif Romly; and bronze medallist Siti Noor Radiah Ismail, were given a special send-off through the Pos Aviation VIP Meet and Assist Service at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
It is a wish-come-true for Abdul Latif and Siti Noor Radiah to perform umrah together with their parents.
The umrah package is timely, as both initially wanted to use part of the RM1 million in incentives they received to fund their parents’ pilgrimage trip.
Meanwhile, Ridzuan said he is grateful to be given the opportunity to perform the umrah.
“I am indebted to my parents for their constant support, which has kept my spirits high, and believing that I can accomplish great successes. I felt that it was time for me to reward them with an umrah trip.
"It is the least I can do for all they have done for me,” he said.
Newlywed Ziyad is grateful that his prayers to bring his wife, Zafirah Mohd Nasir and parents on an umrah pilgrimage, were answered.
“I am thankful to DRB-HICOM for sponsorship of the umrah trip, as this proved to be the best wedding gift for us,” he said.
The athletes were accompanied by their family members, an officer from the National Sports Council of Malaysia and four DRB-HICOM staff.
The 12-day umrah pilgrimage package is fully-sponsored by DRB-Hicom, with travel arrangements handled by Tradewinds Travel Services.
The group will spend a few days in Madinah before performing the umrah in Mecca. From Mecca, they will travel to Jeddah.
They are expected to return to Kuala Lumpur on Jan 7.
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