Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi made the announcement on Monday after officiating at the welcoming dinner of the "2nd National Seminar on Haj Best Practices."
“USM is one of many institutions worldwide that has been given the task of developing products and services to create a better environment for pilgrims performing the Haj.
“Partnering with Umm-Al-Qura Universtiy (UQU) in Mecca, Pernec Advanced Network Sdn Bhd and Lembaga Tabung Haji (Pilgrimage Fund Board), USM launched the PTMS prototype last year using the luggage of several local respondents performing the Haj.
“The prototype was a big success and a pilot study will be conducted during the coming Haj season using radio-frequency identification (RFID) to track the movements of several respondents performing the Haj,” Ahmad Zahid said.
When completed, the tracking system will include passport, health, baggage and pilgrim monitoring RFID tags that would be scanned at several locations in the Holy City.
“The services in Mecca and Madinah need to be adapted to modern technology and USM is creating a system that can be used for the next 50 to 100 years, while also accounting for the needs of a growing number of pilgrims performing the Haj,” Ahmad Zahid said. Pilgrims all over the world could use products produced by USM if they were successfully commercialised, he added.
He said PTMS would be introduced into the market within the next five years. after which it would be partly subsidised by Lembaga Tabung Haji for all those intending to perform the Haj.
Konsep "Universiti Di Dalam Taman" yang diadunkan oleh USM ini menunjukkan hubungan akrab di antara peranan dan fungsinya sebagai institusi pengajian tinggi dalam persekitaran taman yang segar. Unsur flora, fauna, air dan ciptaan-ciptaan lain merupakan hubungan yang dinamik dalam penerokaan kehidupan selanjutnya. Konsep ini mengajak kita untuk mengekalkan kehijauan kampus sebagai sebahagian daripada usaha membangunkan dunia intelek. Kita perlu semarakkan semangat dan amalan dalam menjaga persekitaran kampus, malah terus menyayangi dan menghargai alam semula jadi dan ekologi yang dianugerahkan Tuhan di hati dan pemikiran pada setiap warga kampus.
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