KUALA LUMPUR: The standard operating procedures (SOP) for the haj and umrah as well as the quota for Malaysian pilgrims will be known soon after Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri said the basis for the SOP has been formulated but still requires updates, subject to the actual on-the-ground Covid-19 situation in Saudi Arabia.
"(The SOP) will be updated and finalised after the visit by the prime minister to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government will make the announcement. However, there is some delay due to the Covid-19 issue.
"I hope all quarters will remain patient for the time being," he told Berita Harian when asked to comment on whether Malaysians have been granted permission to perform their pilgrimage at the holy cities.
During a special interview in conjunction with Perikatan Nasional's one-year anniversary, Muhyiddin said he planned to conduct an official visit to several countries, including Saudi Arabia early this month, to strengthen bilateral ties.
The Saudi Arabian embassy Religious Attaché in Malaysia, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Rubaian, had told Bernama that the Saudi King, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is expected to receive a visit from Muhyiddin to discuss the matter.
He also said Saudi Arabia had never closed its doors to Malaysian pilgrims to perform haj and umrah after the reopening of the country's borders and that Malaysians were always welcome to visit the country.
The Saudi government on Feb 3 had suspended the entry of people from 20 countries as a preventive measure against the global pandemic. Malaysia was not on the list of countries temporarily banned by Saudi Arabia.
Although the Saudi government had allowed Malaysians pilgrims to perform the umrah since Nov 15 last year, the Malaysian government had decided against it, based on advice from the Health Ministry.
Meanwhile, Association of Umrah and Haj Travel Agents (Papuh) chairman Datuk Seri Razali Mohd Sham said he hoped the Saudi government would allow anywhere from 10,000 to 20,000 Malaysian pilgrims to perform their pilgrimage at the holy cities.
"The haj quota for Malaysia was 32,000 people (before the pandemic hit the country). If not all, It would be sufficient if the Saudi government can approve 50 per cent of the original quota.
"Last year, the Saudi government only allowed up to 10,000 pilgrims to perform the haj. We noticed that Tabung Haji has already started organising haj courses, hence, the possibility of Malaysian pilgrims being allowed to travel is there," he said.
Papuh also urged the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry to allow local industry players to be included among the entourage that would be conducting a technical visit to Saudi Arabia.