Approximately 100 hopeful Umrah pilgrims were left disheartened and saddened as their long-awaited journeys to Saudi Arabia were unexpectedly canceled at the eleventh hour on Monday.

Many of them had already reached the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang, hailing from various regions including Kelantan, Perak, Kedah, Pahang, Johor, and Sabah. They were all geared up for their anticipated departure, which was initially slated for 3:10 PM on the same day via a Malaysia Airlines flight.

Among those affected, Noor Hazwani Kee A Chuan, 37, shared her story. Along with her parents and a sibling, she had secured an Umrah package through an agency, with each person paying around RM10,000.

"Unfortunately, our dream of embarking on the sacred pilgrimage to the Holy Land has been shattered, and our concerns about the vanishing of the money we paid are growing."

"I also learned that some fellow potential pilgrims from Sabah, who had entrusted this agency, have been in the Peninsula for the last two weeks, gearing up for their journey to the Holy Land," she conveyed during an interview with Sinar Harian on Wednesday.

Noor Hazwani, who hails from Tumpat, Kelantan, disclosed that the agency had made a series of assurances to the aspiring pilgrims, indicating that their departure would occur on either Tuesday or Wednesday.

"Upon our arrival at KLIA on Monday, I began to feel uneasy when the agency's representative informed us of the flight postponement to the next day."

"Yesterday, we were informed that the umrah agency was encountering technical difficulties and was actively working to resolve the issues promptly. Yet, today (Wednesday), we were unexpectedly called to gather at KLIA once again, only to be informed that our journey is canceled," she explained.

During these challenging days, the agency provided lodging for the affected prospective pilgrims in a nearby hotel.

"Our decision to opt for this agency was influenced by its long-standing reputation and its successful two-decade operation in Kelantan."

According to Noor Hazwani, this unfortunate scenario isn't a first-time occurrence. The agency had previously deferred their flights on August 12th.

"We are greatly disappointed by the agency's handling of this matter, particularly because the payments were already made," she expressed.

In response to this situation, Noor Hazwani disclosed that a police report had been filed on Wednesday at the Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi Police Station in Sepang. Furthermore, official reports have also been submitted to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MOTAC).

She further added, "We are actively in the process of registering a complaint with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDN)."

Source: Sinar Harian