KUALA LUMPUR: The Consulate General of Malaysia in Jeddah reminds Malaysian pilgrims to have a valid haj visa and permit before travelling to Saudi Arabia.
In a posting on X, it said the Saudi Arabian government had issued strict instructions allowing only those with a valid haj visa and permit to enter Makkah starting May 24, for the pilgrimage.
"Any individual found without a valid haj visa or permit will be fined 10,000 Saudi riyals and sent back to their home country (without being able to perform Haj) and will also be blacklisted from entering the country.
"Therefore, the Consulate General of Malaysia in Jeddah once again advises all Malaysians to comply with the regulations set by the Saudi Arabian government and to cancel plans to perform haj without a valid visa or permit, including tourist or umrah visa," it said.
The consulate general added that it was ready to help Malaysians in Saudi Arabia, but those who violated the country's regulations should be prepared to face the consequences.
"If there are parties offering haj packages other than those organised by Tabung Haji (TH), the Consulate General of Malaysia in Jeddah recommends that you seek verification with TH first," it said.
Earlier, Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry announced the enforcement of a penalty of 10,000 riyals for violations of haj regulations, including entering seven areas without a haj permit.
The seven areas are Makkah, the Central Region, Masayir, the Haramain train station in Rusayfah, security control centres, isolation centres and a temporary security control centre.
The penalty will be in effect from June 2 to 20.
It was reported that about 300 Malaysian pilgrims in Makkah can't perform the haj as the agency organising their pilgrimage had applied for tourist visas instead of haj visas.
