Riyadh:Local umrah travel agencies are closely monitoring the security situation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and flight schedules to Jeddah and Madinah to ensure the safety of Malaysian pilgrims.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dai Aiman Travel Sdn Bhd founder Aiman Sufyan Aezman stated that the agency had contacted AirAsia and was informed that flight schedules remained unchanged. The agency is awaiting instructions from the Malaysian government, Saudi security authorities, and airlines before taking further action. Aiman advised pilgrims not to panic or rely on social media for information but to obtain updates from official channels.

Meanwhile, Al Hijjrah Vacation Sdn Bhd managing director Mohd Azri Abd Razak mentioned that Saudi Airlines flights had not been cancelled, and other carriers were operating as usual. However, certain airlines, including Malaysia Airlines, had postponed flights due to recent developments in the region. Mohd Azri advised prospective pilgrims to stay updated through their respective agencies and consider security developments before making travel plans.

Kembara Fitrah Travel and Tours Sdn Bhd managing director Major (Rtd) Zainuddin Mahram reported that flight schedules for his agency's pilgrims to Jeddah and Madinah remained on track. The agency provides regular updates to pilgrims and obtains the latest information from the Malaysian Consulate in Saudi Arabia. Zainuddin noted that conditions in Makkah and Madinah were calm, with the incident of concern occurring far from these cities in Riyadh.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan advised Malaysians to temporarily defer travel to Saudi Arabia for the umrah pilgrimage due to security risks arising from the incident.