Mohd Na'im: Saudi lets off 47 M'sian pilgrims with warning
KUALA LUMPUR — The 47 Malaysian pilgrims who violated the haj permit regulation after being duped by a local agent were only given a warning by the Saudi Arabian government.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar said the pilgrims' release was due to the consistent discipline and good track record shown by Malaysian haj pilgrims in the Holy Land.
'Our number (of pilgrims involved) is small compared to other countries, and Malaysia has always maintained a good track record.
'Based on the information I have, there were no fines imposed, meaning the Saudi government has given them a chance and only issued a warning,' he told reporters.
He was speaking at the PPZ-MAIWP Kasih Medik programme, which involved a financial aid contribution for patient transportation at the Batu Muda MAIWP-PICOMS Hemodialysis Centre here today.
Mohd Na'im noted that Malaysia continues to enjoy various privileges and relaxations from the Saudi government, including the early issuance of the Nusuk card – a facility not extended to pilgrims from other countries.
'That is why I urge everyone not to let one mistake jeopardise future privileges for other Malaysian pilgrims,' he said.
Mohd Na'im also advised Malaysians to learn from this incident and to only use official channels when performing the haj.
The media previously reported that the pilgrimage of 47 senior citizens turned into an ordeal after they were duped by a local agent, forcing them to take risky routes to reach Makkah from Jeddah due to Saudi Arabia's strict enforcement against unauthorised haj pilgrims.
In April, the Saudi Ministry of Interior announced penalties for individuals and parties violating haj permit regulations, including a 10-year entry ban into the kingdom. — BERNAMA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
7 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Tour bus crash on NSE: 36 tourists, driver escape unhurt
Tour bus crash on NSE: 36 tourists, driver escape unhurt Bernama IPOH: Thirty-six Indian nationals and a local driver escaped unhurt after the tour bus they were travelling in skidded and crashed at Km396.2 of the North-South Expressway (NSE) northbound near Muallim this afternoon. Muallim police chief Superintendent Mohd Hasni Mohd Nasir said the incident occurred at 3.39pm, and all victims, including the 41-year-old driver, escaped without any injuries. According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the bus was en route from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh when it lost control and veered to the right side of the road. "The bus then crashed into the central divider before ending up in a drain on the right side of the highway," he said when contacted today. He said the tour bus was carrying 32 men and four women, all Indian nationals, who were believed to be travelling from Hotel Regalia in Kuala Lumpur to Hotel Weil in Ipoh. "All passengers were transferred to a replacement bus to continue their journey to their respective destinations," he said. Meanwhile, through a post on X, Plus Malaysia Berhad reported that the crash site was cleared by 6.50pm, after which traffic returned to normal. – BERNAMA
Malaysian Reserve
8 hours ago
- Malaysian Reserve
Domestic tourism expenditure up 25.6% to RM106b in 2024
PUTRAJAYA — Malaysia's domestic tourism sector recorded significant growth in 2024, with total domestic visitor expenditure reaching RM106.7 billion, a 25.6 per cent increase from RM84.9 billion in 2023, according to the Malaysia Domestic Tourism Survey released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) today. Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the growth was driven by higher spending from tourists and day-trippers, registering growth rates of 20.6 per cent and 33.8 per cent, respectively. 'The number of domestic visitors rose by 21.7 per cent to 260.1 million in 2024, compared to 213.7 million the previous year. 'The increase in domestic travel activities was supported by seasonal factors in the first quarter, including Chinese New Year celebrations, Ramadan, Hari Raya Aidilfitri preparations and school holidays, which contributed to higher movement and tourism-related spending,' he said. In terms of transportation modes, 97.6 per cent of domestic visitors used land transport, while air travel accounted for only 2.1 per cent, he said. Mohd Uzir said as for accommodation preferences, 60.4 per cent of tourists stayed with relatives or friends. The proportion of tourists opting for paid accommodation increased, with hotels accounting for 21.7 per cent of overnight stays, while homestay usage rose from 6.7 per cent in 2023 to 8.6 per cent in 2024, he added. 'Visiting relatives and friends remained the primary purpose of domestic travel, contributing 34.6 per cent of total trips in 2024. In contrast, shopping-related trips declined to 27.6 per cent in 2024 from 32.6 per cent the previous year. 'However, shopping remained the largest expenditure category, accounting for 37.4 per cent of total domestic tourism spending, followed by food and beverages at 16.2 per cent and vehicle fuel purchases at 12.7 per cent,' he said. Mohd Uzir said Selangor was the most visited state, attracting 34.5 million domestic visitors, followed by Kuala Lumpur with 27 million and Perak with 21.8 million domestic visitors. 'Overall, Malaysia's domestic tourism sector in 2024 demonstrated robust and rapid growth, driven by an increase in visitor numbers, higher spending and evolving travel patterns. 'While visiting relatives remains dominant, growing interest in recreation-based tourism, programmes and experiences reflects a dynamic and diverse market,' he said. — BERNAMA
Malaysian Reserve
8 hours ago
- Malaysian Reserve
Mohd Na'im: Saudi lets off 47 M'sian pilgrims with warning
KUALA LUMPUR — The 47 Malaysian pilgrims who violated the haj permit regulation after being duped by a local agent were only given a warning by the Saudi Arabian government. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar said the pilgrims' release was due to the consistent discipline and good track record shown by Malaysian haj pilgrims in the Holy Land. 'Our number (of pilgrims involved) is small compared to other countries, and Malaysia has always maintained a good track record. 'Based on the information I have, there were no fines imposed, meaning the Saudi government has given them a chance and only issued a warning,' he told reporters. He was speaking at the PPZ-MAIWP Kasih Medik programme, which involved a financial aid contribution for patient transportation at the Batu Muda MAIWP-PICOMS Hemodialysis Centre here today. Mohd Na'im noted that Malaysia continues to enjoy various privileges and relaxations from the Saudi government, including the early issuance of the Nusuk card – a facility not extended to pilgrims from other countries. 'That is why I urge everyone not to let one mistake jeopardise future privileges for other Malaysian pilgrims,' he said. Mohd Na'im also advised Malaysians to learn from this incident and to only use official channels when performing the haj. The media previously reported that the pilgrimage of 47 senior citizens turned into an ordeal after they were duped by a local agent, forcing them to take risky routes to reach Makkah from Jeddah due to Saudi Arabia's strict enforcement against unauthorised haj pilgrims. In April, the Saudi Ministry of Interior announced penalties for individuals and parties violating haj permit regulations, including a 10-year entry ban into the kingdom. — BERNAMA
