PUTRAJAYA: Travel companies and agencies managing umrah packages must take responsibility for repatriating pilgrims stranded due to the conflict in West Asia if they travelled through their services, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said.
He said the agencies concerned should also arrange the rescheduling of the pilgrims’ return flights.
At the same time, Mohamad said the government is prioritising efforts to assist Malaysians stranded abroad, particularly those trapped at airports while in transit on their way home.
“Those who travelled through travel agents must be brought back by the agents. If the ticket is with Malaysia Airlines (MAS), MAS must bring them home. If it is an AirAsia ticket, AirAsia must do so, and if it is Batik Air, Batik Air must also bring them back.
“Normal flights have resumed. The airline must return pilgrims who can prove they paid for their tickets. It cannot be left to the Malaysian government alone,” he told a press conference after a ceremony to present contributions to the Palestinian People’s Humanitarian Trust Fund here yesterday.
Mohamad said three groups of Malaysians were affected following the closure of airspace in several West Asian countries.
The first group consists of Malaysians stranded at airports such as Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain after transiting for flights back to Kuala Lumpur.
“We are giving priority to those who have been waiting for their return flights at airports for three to five days,” he said.
The second group comprises Malaysians who travelled to perform the umrah independently, while the third includes Malaysians who live, work or reside in the countries concerned.
Nevertheless, Mohamad said the government is assisting those who performed the umrah on their own and were left without any form of travel management.
He said the group is being temporarily accommodated at Tabung Haji facilities, with food provided while arrangements are made for their return flights.
“The number is not large, about 500 to 600 people who travelled for the umrah independently and are now stranded,” he said in a Bernama report.
Tensions in West Asia have reportedly escalated since Feb 28 following a series of attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran. They were followed by retaliatory strikes by Teheran against US interests in Gulf countries.
