Nazri: Increased scrutiny on umrah pilgrims to ensure no IS terrorist links

NUSAJAYA: Malaysian umrah pilgrims will soon have to undergo strict scrutinising procedures before they could be allowed to perform the minor pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said the move was deemed necessary in view of missing Malaysian umrah pilgrims.

He said that the Government wanted to make sure the purpose of them going to Mecca and Medina was solely to perform the pilgrimage and not joining the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria.

“There are cases of missing umrah pilgrims from Malaysia who went missing after performing the umrah to join the IS,’’ Nazri told reporters after visiting  Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios here on Wednesday.

He said that the scrutinising of the umrah pilgrims would involve those travelling to Mecca individually as well as those going via umrah packages offered by travel agents.

Nazri said the security agencies and authorities would have to come out with the security procedures to ensure that the Malaysian umrah pilgrims would return to the country after performing their umrah.

“We will work closely with the Saudi government to tackle the issue (of missing umrah pilgrims) as the issuance of umrah visas comes under their jurisdiction,’’ he said.

Nazri said apart from umrah pilgrims, a similiar move would also involve Malaysians going holiday abroad as they could also be going to Iraq and Syria via a third country to join IS.

He supported the proposed Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota) said he would bring the issue to be debated in the current Parliament sitting at the IS threat was not only to Malaysia but also the world.