A SACRED journey turned into a harrowing ordeal for 47 Malaysian pilgrims after they were allegedly duped by a travel agent who had promised them a smooth pilgrimage to Mecca for RM30,000 each.
According to BH Ahad, the group arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia without proper pilgrimage visas, which are required under the country’s strict regulations.
Denied access to Mecca, the pilgrims were then instructed by the agent to make the journey on foot – an arduous trek of over 80km.
Desperate to fulfil their haj, they proceeded on foot, navigating highways, deserts and remote fenced areas to reach Mecca.
Several pilgrims with chronic health conditions had to pay an additional RM9,000 to have their medication retrieved from baggage kept elsewhere.
The news report said the agency responsible is allegedly linked to a well-known religious figure.
The pilgrims were promised comfortable accommodation, proper meals and guided tours, but were instead crammed into small rooms and given meagre portions of poorly prepared food.
Many considered fleeing but were deterred by the unfamiliar surroundings.
Several police reports have since been lodged by their family members in Malaysia against the travel agent.
> For Fazli Hamsan, strange and destructive “visits” have become an unsettling pattern.
Since moving into his home in Kampung Sri Lukut, Kluang five years ago, the 43-year-old has experienced three separate incidents involving vehicles crashing into or damaging his property.
The latest occurred on Saturday morning, when a large truck crashed through the walls of his house, causing extensive damage.
Fortunately, Fazli and his family were not home at the time, reported Mingguan Malaysia.
The first incident involved a runaway lorry’s tyre that rolled towards his house, slammed into his car and came to a stop right at his doorstep.
He said the second incident happened two years ago, when an out-of-control car veered into his compound.
“I still don’t understand how this keeps happening as my house is situated some distance from the main road.
“But we are thankful none of the incidents caused casualties. However, we hope that barricades or railings can be installed along the road near my house,” said Fazli.
The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a, it denotes a separate news item.
