5 days ago
Umrah agency's financial woes leave 42 Malaysian pilgrims stranded in Jeddah
KUALA LUMPUR: The failure of an umrah agency to purchase return flight tickets has left 42 Malaysian pilgrims stranded at a hotel in Jeddah after they were unable to fly home last night.
As a result, the pilgrims have had to bear additional costs for accommodation, meals and transportation, believed to amount to several thousand ringgit.
The group's umrah guide, Muhammad Abu Sufyan Mohd Mokhtar Rozaidi, said there had yet to be any positive development from the umrah agency managing the pilgrimage package.
"Our return flight to Malaysia was scheduled for 10pm last night, but we could not board because there were no tickets.
"We had to stay here (in Jeddah) with no assurance that we will be able to fly home tomorrow.
"The person (representing the umrah agency) has not shown much effort to help, as promised, and I am still in contact with the chief executive officer (CEO) of the agency, but there has been no progress.
"They simply informed us that the company's finances are unstable and this is worrying because most of the pilgrims are elderly, aged between 50 and 60. One of them is pregnant, and another requires dialysis treatment," he said.
He also said that he was the only person from the agency present in Jeddah to manage the group.
"I have previously served as a mutawif for this agency, but never experienced a case like this before. This is the first time something like this has happened.
"Two days ago, the CEO said they were unable to purchase return tickets due to increased hotel costs.
"They had promised to reschedule our return flight for either yesterday or today, but later informed us that they had no money to buy tickets and had to seek assistance from the Malaysian Consulate in Jeddah," he said.
He added that officials from the Malaysian Embassy in Jeddah have also contacted and visited the stranded pilgrims.
He also requested help from any party willing and able to assist them in returning to Malaysia as soon as possible.
"I hope for some assistance from any parties that can help us get home soon," he said.
Yesterday, Muhammad Abu Sufyan uploaded a video to social media highlighting the plight of the pilgrims stranded in Jeddah.
He expressed hope that the video would be widely shared, prompting the relevant authorities to step in and resolve the matter.
