100 pilgrims fail to perform umrah due to flight cancellation

SHAH ALAM - Roughly 100 would be umrah pilgrims are disappointed and sad after their flight to Saudi Arabia was cancelled at the last minute on Monday.

Most of the individuals had arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Sepang from Kelantan, Perak, Pahang, Johor and Sabah as they were informed that the flight would take off at 3.10pm on the same day through Malaysia Airlines.

Noor Hazwani Kee A Chuan, 37, said she along with her mother, father and sister took the umrah package from an agency with each having to pay roughly RM10,000.

“Unfortunately, we will not only be unable to perform our worship in the Holy Land, but we worry that the money we paid would simply be burned.

“I understand that some had purchased the package from the agency from Sabah and had been in the Peninsular for two weeks to depart for the Holy Land,” she said when contacted by Sinar on Wednesday.

Hazwani from Tumpat Kelantan said the agency involved made several promises claiming that they would take off on Tuesday or Wednesday.

“As we arrived (in KLIA on Monday) I started feeling uneasy when the agency representative informed our flight was delayed (on Tuesday).

“Yesterday we were informed that the umrah agency had technical issues and they would work towards solving it immediately, but today (Wednesday) we were asked to gather in KLIA to be sent back,” she explained.

Hazwani said throughout the two days, the agency placed the would-be pilgrims at a nearby hotel.

“We were attracted by the package offered by the agency because it was a well-known company that had operated for over 20 years in Kelantan.

She said the problems the umrah pilgrims faced was the second time that it happened as the agency informed their flight was delayed on Aug 12.

“We were disappointed with the agency that managed the package as the money had been paid,” she said.

She said a police report was lodged on Wednesday in Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi Police Station, Sepang while a report to the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry was also lodged.

“We are in the process of filing a complaint to the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry,” she said.