Coronavirus: Indonesia’s haj cancellation fuels anti-government rumours; Malaysia generally accepts decision

Name: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia uses drones to check body temperatures in the street
Uploaded: 2020-06-17T06:30:15.000Z
Duration: 1 min 11 s
Description: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia uses drones to check body temperatures in the street

Saudi Arabia is expected to scale back or call off the pilgrimage, a rare occurrence since the kingdom was founded in 1932, amid a spike in Covid-19 cases

In Indonesia, fake news is rife about the government appropriating haj funds, while Malaysians understand given there is no end in sight to the spread of the disease

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The Great Mosque and the Mecca Tower are deserted on the first day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan during the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: AFP

Agence France-PresseandAmy Chew

Published: 2:30pm, 17 Jun 2020Updated: 2:30pm, 17 Jun 2020

Indonesia’s cancellation of this year’s haj to holy sites in Saudi Arabia due to the coronavirus pandemic is being exploited to stoke anti-government sentiment, while in Malaysia the decision has been widely accepted and understood.

The cancellations by the two Muslim-majority countries in Southeast Asia come as Saudi Arabia has yet to decide whether the annual pilgrimage will go ahead.

Observers expect Riyadh to scale back or call off this year’s haj in a rare occurrence since the kingdom was founded in 1932 as coronavirus cases reach more than 132,000, with over 1,000 deaths. However, any decision to limit or cancel the event risks annoying Muslim hardliners for whom religion trumps health concerns.

A full-scale haj, which last year drew about 2.5 million pilgrims, appears increasingly unlikely after Saudi Arabian authorities advised Muslims in late March to defer preparations due to the fast-spreading disease.

“Saudi Arabia is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea,” said Umar Karim, a visiting fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London. “The delay in announcing its decision shows it understands the political consequences of cancelling the haj or reducing its scale.”

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Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia uses drones to check body temperatures in the street

A South Asian official in contact with Saudi haj authorities said the kingdom was “buying time” as it treads cautiously.