Free umrah trip for four persons with disabilities

KUALA LUMPUR - Mohd Azham Abd Ghani, 50, had been saving up for a pilgrimage to Mekah for a long time.

However, a stroke he suffered two years ago left him with paraplegia. The medical costs of his treatments ate up into his savings.

He never imagined he would be able to make it to the Mekah in his lifetime but his dream is about to come true on Aug 14, as TM Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd would be sponsoring an umrah trip for him and three other persons with disabilities (PwDs).

"I had wanted to go to Mekah for a long time and had been saving up for a while. But I have health issues, so what can I do. It never crossed my mind that I would be blessed with this opportunity,” he told Bernama.

Seventeen-year-old Mohamad Aiman Zahkwan Esa who has mild autism was more than thrilled to hear he was one of the four chosen for the trip.

"When my mother told me that I would be going to Mekah, I was shocked and a little nervous - I mean I’d be going to the house of God. But I’m happy and deeply moved as well to receive this gift,” he told Bernama.

Mohamad Aiman, who also has a learning disorder, would be going on the trip accompanied by his mother.

TM Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd director Naaimah Abdullah said the programme was part of their corporate social responsibility programme that sponsors umrah trips for individuals such as single mothers, PwDs and those from the asnaf group. (The asnaf are eligible recipients of zakat collection).

"We took over TM Tours with the intention of giving back to those in need as our business prospered.

"Whatever we have in excess is from God and should be shared with those in need,” she told Bernama after launching an umrah programme for special needs children on July 30.

The programme, started in 2008, has been taking place almost every year since.

This year, those sponsored were from the Titiwangsa Rehabilitation and Community Programme.

The four would be leaving for Mekah on Aug 14 and returning on Aug 25.

TM Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd have been operating since 1991 and is a licensed tour agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. - BERNAMA