KUALA LUMPUR – The new standard operating procedures (SOPs) mandating that Malaysian umrah pilgrims take their Covid-19 vaccine booster shots is based on a request by the Saudi Arabian government, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Idris Ahmad.
“The booster dose is a requirement by the Saudi government for umrah pilgrims. It has issued a circular, so we have to comply.
“The door to the Holy Land is open from today. So our pilgrims have to follow the conditions set in order to go there,” he told reporters after attending the Usrah Anak Muda programme, organised by the Islamic Development Department and Radio Zayan at the Malaysia Tourism Centre here today.
On the latest data on prospective umrah pilgrims who have received booster shots, Idris said his team did not have the figures.
He said the statistics on prospective Malaysian umrah pilgrims who have received booster doses were with the Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry as the umrah SOPs are under its purview. – Bernama, February 9, 2022
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