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PETALING JAYA: The ministries of religious affairs and foreign affairs said they will consult the National Security Council (MKN) and the Ministry of Health for advice, following Saudi Arabia’s decision to reopen its borders to foreign pilgrims.
In a joint statement, the Prime Minister’s Department Minister (Religious Affairs) Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri and Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said they were working to ensure that the country’s Muslims could travel for the pilgrimage of the umrah.
They welcomed Saudi Arabia’s decision to allow foreign pilgrims to enter for up to 10 days, and said they would also study the country’s pilgrimage SOPs.
“The government will do everything possible for the benefit of the people, especially the umrah pilgrims who will travel to the holy land in the future. For us, the safety and health of all Malaysian umrah pilgrims are our top priority, ”Zulkifli and Hishammuddin said in a joint statement.
Saudi Arabia announced that it was reopening its Muslim holy sites for the umrah pilgrimage throughout the year, seven months after the Covid-19 pandemic triggered its suspension.
Umrah generally attracts millions of Muslims from around the world each year.
Foreign pilgrims are expected to be quarantined for three days upon arrival, before being transported to religious sites.
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