KUALA LUMPUR: Umrah and Haj Travel Agency Association (Papuh) said about 15,000 umrah pilgrims were affected by the temporary suspension of umrah and tourist visa to Masjid Nabawi in Madinah by Saudi Arabia.
Its president Datuk Seri Razali Mohd Sham said the pilgrims were scheduled to leave in March.
“Their trips have been postponed,” he said.
In a statement yesterday (Feb 27), Wisma Putra said it was informed by the Saudi Arabia Embassy in Kuala Lumpur of the temporary suspension of umrah pilgrimage and visits to Masjid Nabawi in Madinah as part of measures to prevent Covid-19 from spreading in the kingdom.
According to Razali, about 200 of its agents (out of 800) were affected by the move.
“We have informed the agents on the matter,” he added.
He said Papuh is currently dealing with airlines which are part of the umrah packages, and is also in contact with the Saudi Arabia Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
Razali added that about 290,000 Malaysian pilgrims go for umrah annually.
“During peak seasons, there are about 30,000 pilgrims, compared to about 15,000 to 20,000 people, during off-seasons.”
Meanwhile, Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) umrah and hajj vice-president Mohd Azri Abd Razak said it was informed by Saudi Arabian Airlines on Feb 27 that affected umrah pilgrims from Malaysia can ask for a refund or reschedule their flights.
He added that travel agents would however need time to rearrange a new schedule, when the suspension is eventually lifted.
Matta had appealed to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to help intervene over the temporary suspension of umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
Azri expressed hope the matter would not prolong as Malaysia had managed the Covid-19 cases well, with no fatalities.
Meanwhile, he informed that those who had left to perform the umrah are not facing any problems so far.
“However, they are currently subjected to strict supervisions. According to our sources there, the pilgrims are also subjected to stringent checks at the airport and at all check points in Makkah and Madinah. Some matters related to management of the pilgrims were also disrupted,” he added.
Azri said in Southeast Asia, only travellers from Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei were offered tourist visas from Saudi Arabia.