KUCHING: The Sarawak Umrah and Hajj Association (SUHA) has addressed concerns over the impact of the ongoing Middle East conflict on umrah and hajj journeys.
SUHA Chairman, Ruzaiman Ghazalee, said the association is taking note of current developments, which are being closely monitored by relevant parties.
“Earlier in the conflict, it briefly disrupted flight schedules. However, operations have since resumed smoothly after the situation stabilised and currently do not affect the hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia,” he said during a press conference in conjunction with Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri SUHA YUCCA, Jalan Depo here on Saturday.
He added that the first group of Sarawak pilgrims is scheduled to depart on April 30, with more than 1,000 pilgrims from the state set to perform Hajj this year, marking a long-awaited opportunity for many in the Muslim community.
“Close cooperation between the Malaysian government, relevant agencies, and the Saudi Arabian government provides confidence that the safety and welfare of pilgrims remain a priority,” he added.
Managing director of Az Safir Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd, Dr Syed Abdul Aziz Wan Hamid Edruce said the company fully complies with the advisory issued by the Malaysian government advisory.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised that travel for Umrah or within the Middle East region should be postponed, rather than imposing travel bans.
“On our part, we fully adhere to the advisory and take precautionary measures by ensuring that Umrah pilgrims avoid flights with transit routes through conflict-affected areas, and prioritise direct flights for our Umrah pilgrims whenever possible,” he said.
