KUALA LUMPUR: Daily activities in Mecca and Madinah are reported to be proceeding as usual following the attack at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, although flight disruptions remain a concern for Malaysians residing there and their families back home.
An independent ‘mutawwif’ (pilgrims guide) in Mecca, Ahmad Saiful Maznan Muhamad, said conditions in the two holy cities have remained normal so far, with umrah rituals proceeding smoothly without significant changes.
"The Malaysian umrah pilgrims under my guidance are calm, even though many of their families in Malaysia are worried following security developments in the Middle East.
"Travel arrangements for umrah pilgrims currently depend on airline directives, especially for those on transit flights or affected by rescheduling," he said when contacted by Bernama Radio on Tuesday (Oct 13).
He advised pilgrims scheduled to depart soon to follow official updates from their respective travel agencies and airlines before making any travel decisions.
For those still planning to perform the umrah, he suggested considering direct flights to reduce the risk of travel disruptions caused by transit issues.
"The Malaysian Consulate in Jeddah can be contacted if pilgrims face problems, including needing assistance following flight delays," he said.
Meanwhile, a Malaysian residing in Riyadh, nurse Ku Anis Nabila Ku Azman, said daily activities in the city were continuing as usual, with locals appearing calm despite the incident sparking concern.
"I received information about the incident while at home over the weekend through a WhatsApp group for the Malaysian community here," she said.
However, she acknowledged that the situation had raised concerns, particularly among Malaysians planning to return home soon, due to flight cancellations and delays.
She also urged family members in Malaysia to pray for the safety of Malaysians there, while reminding them to remain calm and obtain information from verified sources.
The attack at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh reportedly killed 12 people and injured 309 others, according to a statement on Sunday (Oct 11).
Civil aviation authorities had earlier announced that airport operations were temporarily suspended following the attack.- Bernama
