NINE Malaysian tabligh members arrived home safely from Kolkata, India, today via an Air India Express flight, said Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Kamarudin Jaffar.

They were the fourth group to return and so far, the ministry has brought back 124 out of the 189 members of the Malaysian tabligh group stranded in India.

“A total of 115 individuals have been repatriated earlier through three humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions on July 17, 22, and 29 respectively.

“All Malaysians who were brought home have to undergo a 14-day self-quarantine at the quarantine station set by the government,” he said in a statement yesterday.

The nine individuals were under the supervision of the Indian authorities in the Haj House, in Kolkata since April 1 to undergo the quarantine set by the Indian government and the authorities did not file any charges against them.

Kamarudin said to date, there are still 65 Malaysian tabligh members in India. Of this number, 13 are in New Delhi and still awaiting release and permission to return from the Indian government.

While the remaining individuals are in several provinces in India, namely Bihar, Jharkhand, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and are undergoing the legal process.

In line with the government’s commitment to help the tabligh group stranded there, the ministry through Malaysian representatives in India will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide appropriate consular assistance to ensure their rights and welfare are protected.

The 124 returnees were part of a 189-member Malaysian tabligh group who were unable to return to the country due to travel restrictions imposed by India to curb the spread of Covid-19. – Bernama, August 27, 2020.