Malaysians stranded in Saudi Arabia will be brought back soon

TAIPING – The 63 Malaysians stranded in Saudi Arabia since last June will be brought back to Malaysia soon, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Idris Ahmad.

Speaking to reporters after attending the Youth Relaxation Program here today, he said efforts are underway with the Consulate General of Malaysia in Jeddah to coordinate their repatriation.

On Friday, the Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed that 63 Malaysians comprising 28 adults and 35 children had been stranded in Saudi Arabia since last June.

They were brought to Madinah by the Naqshbandiyah Al-Kholidiyah Order to perform Umrah last March but were stranded in Madinah until today and were not brought to Makkah to complete the pilgrimage.

Regarding the action that will be taken against the leader of the group, Habib Shah Firdaus Habib Ahmad, regarding the teachings of the order he brought, Idris said it was subject to the authority of the State Department of Islamic Religion after the Fatwa Committee. -- Bernama