SEGAMAT (Jan 3): The decision to temporarily suspend umrah trips has been a difficult one to make but it is done in the public interest, following the threat of the new Covid-19 Omicron variant, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Senator Idris Ahmad. He said there was no discrimination against Muslims as alleged by some parties. He said it was a national issue involving members of the public therefore such allegations were highly inconsiderate. In the end, the authorities had to make the decision (to suspend umrah trips). The government had decided to temporarily suspend travel permission to perform umrah starting Jan 8 to curb the spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant, which led to allegations of discrimination against Muslims hurled by some quarters.

Source: The Edge Markets January 04, 2022 01:54 UTC