LETTER | Why non-Muslims barred from religious travel?

LETTER | Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Nancy Shukri has announced that the cabinet on Wednesday has decided to allow Muslims to resume umrah pilgrimages from February 8.

Nancy Shukri said that the cabinet did not want to extend the suspension further and as such with effect from February 8 umrah travel agents can continue their umrah activities.

Earlier on January 1, the government had decided to temporarily suspend all umrah trips from January 8 over fears of the high number of Covid-19 Omicron variant cases among those returning from Saudi Arabia.

While the resumption of umrah trips is welcome news for Muslims, why are non-Muslims “locked down” and prevented from going abroad for their respective pilgrimage and religious obligations?

Are pilgrimages and religious tours the exclusive right and privilege for Muslims, not to be accorded and extended to non-Muslims?

With more than 90 percent of Malaysians fully vaccinated, it is grossly unfair to keep non-Muslims locked down and prevented from going abroad to fulfil their respective pilgrimage and religious obligations.

I call upon urgent the MCA and MIC presidents and the national unity minister to urgently address this issue and stop this perceived discriminatory practice.

Let anyone who is fully vaccinated and residing in Malaysia, including permanent residents, MM2H pass holders or long-term spouse visa holders be permitted to travel abroad for their pilgrimage and religious obligations and thereafter be allowed re-entry.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.