KUALA LUMPUR: It is inaccurate to claim that the umrah standard operating procedures are changing frequently, says Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

       She said that the SOP has only been changed once since it was introduced last year and added that the change was only made following the one-month suspension on umrah travel imposed by the government on Jan 8.

       Nancy also said that the number of those who had to bear losses due to being unable to get refunds for some of the payments that were made were much lower than the overall number of 19,000 affected pilgrims.

       “The government had also agreed that the pilgrims severely affected by the temporary postponement of umrah trips would receive a consolation payment,” Nancy told the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (March 3) during the oral question and answer session.

       She also said that although the government had not allowed pilgrims returning to the country to quarantine at home after the government's announcement of the umrah suspension, they were given the option to choose between a private or government-run quarantine centre.

       Nancy added that the new SOP starting Feb 14 says that pilgrims no longer need to undergo mandatory quarantine at designated stations and can instead undergo home quarantine without filling out a Home Quarantine Application (HQA), just like anyone else returning from abroad.

       “At the same time, pilgrims are also allowed to choose to undergo compulsory quarantine at private quarantine stations with the cost of accommodation, meals and treatment borne by themselves,” said Nancy

       “Therefore, I once again want to emphasise that the government has never wished to trouble the people, but has always looked after their welfare,” she added.

       The government suspended the permission for travelling to perform the umrah from Jan 8 to Feb 8 to curb the spread of the Covid-19 Omicron variant following a high number of cases from pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia.