KUALA LUMPUR: Several umrah agencies in the country expressed shock at how 14 per cent of umrah pilgrims who returned to the country with Covid-19 Omicron variant did not have any vaccination record.
Andalusia Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd executive chairman Datuk Md Daud Che Ngah said the matter raised eyebrows as the immigration departments in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia imposed strict travelling procedures.
"I am puzzled, because the existing procedures and SOP (standard operating procedures) are very strict but I don't have any further information on this.
"But to my knowledge, Saudi Arabia requires travellers to have completed both doses of either Pfizer or AstraZeneca to enter.
"Based on my experience in October, there will be repeated checks on one's vaccine status either at the airport or while waiting for the visa to be issued.
"In Andalusia, our staff members will ensure that each umrah pilgrim would show their vaccination certificate, before they are issued a visa," he told Harian Metro today.
Daud, however, said it was also possible for the pilgrims to perform the umrah without hiring travel and tour agencies.
"Maybe they could have used a tourist visa… I don't want to comment because it can be done in many ways. However, I'm quite surprised how it could have been missed in Saudi Arabia.
"I think there might be some carelessness but I'm not sure on whose part," he said, adding that those affected most likely did not use the group travel and went on their own.
When asked whether these pilgrims could have used umrah agency services to travel, he said it was quite difficult to ascertain because each umrah agency had strict travel rules to protect their reputation.
Meanwhile, Selangor Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (SAFTTA) president Dr Fathir Badri Alhadad said they too were shocked with Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin's revelation on the unvaccinated pilgrims.
"We hope the Health Ministry can provide more information on this matter and impose stern action on them. The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry should work with the Health Ministry to identify those who are not vaccinated.
"SAFTTA urges the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry to take stern and thorough action to prevent it from happening again," he said.
However, He added that SAFTTA would not support the postponement of umrah.
"Tightening the present SOP when the umrah pilgrims arrive is more practical than postponing the trip, because the payments have already been made for those with approved visas.
"For January, it is estimated that 10,000 people already got their visas and have paid RM3,500 for the hotel and transportation in Saudi Arabia beforehand.
"We hope the government will take this matter seriously because it involves RM35 million in losses for the pilgrims."