AS many as 453 umrah pilgrims are stranded in Saudi Arabia after their flight back to Malaysia has been delayed twice.

The Star Online reported that their pilgrimage was marred with trouble from the start, with their original departure flight on December 3 delayed twice before eventually leaving on a chartered flight on December 11.

After performing their umrah, the pilgrims packed their bags to leave on December 22, only to find out at the Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Inter­national Airport in Medina that the flight “did not take place”.

They were supposed to leave on another promised flight yesterday, but again found out at the airport that it did not materialise.

After the delays, pilgrims moved from hotel to hotel, with food and accommodation still paid for by the agency.

Pilgrims The Star spoke to said the umrah package only cost RM3,800, much lower than the usual price of RM6,800, and was recommended by friends who had used the tour agency’s services.

However, Umrah and Haj Travel Association (Papuh) president Razali Mohd Sham said the low price was suspicious as flight tickets alone would cost RM3,200, leaving little for visa and accommodation.

Razali also said the tour agency responsible was unlicensed and was a re-branded travel company previously shut down by the Tourism Ministry for pilgrimage fraud.

He then said there are only 264 travel agencies licensed to offer umrah packages in the country and urged pilgrims to verify before buying any umrah packages. – December 27, 2017.