Bernama
Februari 9, 2022
The new SOP which makes it mandatory for Malaysian umrah pilgrims to take the COVID-19 vaccine booster is based on a request by the Saudi Arabian government, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Idris Ahmad.
KUALA LUMPUR: The new standard operating procedure (SOP) which makes it mandatory for Malaysian umrah pilgrims to take the COVID-19 vaccine booster is based on a request by the Saudi Arabian government, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Idris Ahmad.
"The booster dose is a requirement by the Saudi government for umrah pilgrims. It (Saudi Arabia) has issued a circular, so we have to comply.
"The door to the Holy Land is open from today. So our pilgrims have to follow the conditions set in order to go there," he told reporters after attending the Usrah Anak Muda programme, organised by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) and Radio Zayan, at the Malaysia Tourism Centre here yesterday.
On the latest data on prospective umrah pilgrims who have received booster shots, Idris said his team did not have the figure.
He said the statistics on prospective Malaysian umrah pilgrims who have received booster doses were with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture because the umrah SOP was under the ministry's purview.
-- BERNAMA
Compulsory booster dose among new SOPs for umrah
08/02/2022 08:34 PM
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 -- Umrah pilgrims are required to take the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose under the new standard operating procedures (SOPs) announced by the government, effective Feb 14.
Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said umrah pilgrims would be allowed to undergo mandatory quarantine at home without having to submit the Home Quarantine Application (HQA).
“Pilgrims will also be allowed to undergo mandatory quarantine at private quarantine stations with the cost of accommodation, food and treatment borne by themselves.
“In addition, the person in charge from travel agencies need to monitor SOP compliance among pilgrims while in the Holy Land, travelling back to Malaysia and at the international entry points into the country,” he told a press conference on the outcome of the COVID-19 quartet ministerial meeting here today.
Hishammuddin said pilgrims who depart for the Holy Land from today until Feb 13 are subject to the existing SOPs but are required to comply with the new set of SOPs upon returning to the country.
On Jan 26, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the Cabinet has decided to allow Muslims to resume umrah trips from Feb 8.
The decision was made as the government did not intend to extend the postponement period of umrah trips which came into effect on Jan 8 following the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant infection.
-- BERNAMA
