KUCHING: Sarawak-based Muay Thai fighter Johan ‘Jojo’ Ghazali continues training near Makkah during sahur as Deputy Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu calls for calm amid rising international tensions.
Despite the uncertainty, Jojo has maintained his training discipline, sharing glimpses on social media of his early morning sessions during Ramadan, reflecting resilience amid challenging circumstances.
The 19-year-old travelled to Saudi Arabia with his family at the start of Ramadan to perform the umrah pilgrimage.
Jojo and his family are among Malaysians affected by airspace closures in several West Asian countries following the escalating conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran since the weekend.
The situation has disrupted travel plans and left many families uneasy, particularly with the haj season approaching next month.
Rentap said that although the conflict does not directly involve Malaysia, it has nonetheless impacted ordinary citizens, including Malaysians travelling or residing in the region.
“We feel uneasy because this war does not involve us, yet our people are affected. I believe it is not only Jojo and his family, but many other families as well,” he told reporters after attending the ‘Majlis Berbuka Puasa Jawatankuasa Kecil Sukan, Rekreasi dan Kebudayaan SABERKAS Sarawak Bersama Media’ at the Borneo Cultures Museum on Monday (Mar 2).
He urged unity and patience among those impacted and voiced concern over prospective haj pilgrims who may face uncertainty over travel arrangements and rising costs if disruptions persist.
“At this time, the most important thing is that we remain united. We do not agree with the actions taken by the United States and Israel, and we believe the situation should not have escalated to this point,” he said.
Describing the tensions as akin to an “abang along” bullying others, Rentap stressed that Malaysia values peace and stability.
“We strongly condemn this. I hope those who are involved and stranded in the affected areas will remain patient and stay calm. We pray that they will be able to return to Malaysia safely,” he added.
