A Malaysian participant at an international tabligh gathering in Indonesia's South Sulawesi province, which has since been postponed, indicated that he would not return home until the movement control order has been lifted on March 31.
The businessperson from Kuching, who wished to be known as Ustaz Adie, told Malaysiakini that he was already in Indonesia since two weeks ago before making his way to Gowa, Makassar, to join thousands of Muslim pilgrims for the three-day World Ijtima Asia Zone 2020 gathering.
"Maybe I will go to Jakarta after this... If it is safe for me to find products to sell (back home).
"If it's not safe, then I will stay in Pontianak," he said, referring to the capital of Indonesia's West Kalimantan province that borders Sarawak.
It was reported yesterday that at least 80 Malaysians are believed to be in Gowa for the gathering, which was shelved due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, Adie said that he and two others from Kuching never made it to the campsite.
"I am still relaxing at the hotel (this morning) and the ijtima has been postponed...So I just continued sleeping," he added when contacted via Facebook Messenger.
Adie, who owns a Muslim alternative treatment centre, had yesterday posted several updates about his journey to Gowa, including a lengthy apology for any concerns caused by his actions.
He said there were no Covid-19 cases recorded in Makassar so far and they were subjected to health screenings upon arrival at the airport.
He also explained that the gathering in Gowa had "nothing to do" with the Seri Petaling mosque gathering in Kuala Lumpur as the two tabligh groups received orders from a different central leader.
All the related posts have been deleted as of this morning.
"Yes (I deleted)...I don't want to promote more sins with the people's criticisms," he said when quizzed on the matter.
Authorities had been trying to persuade organisers to stop the event in Gowa after the gathering in Malaysia led to hundreds of infections.
The administrative head of Gowa, Adnan Purichta Ichsan, posted on social media late last night that the organisers had "finally agreed" to postpone the event.
"We did not stop communication and coordination with the core committee," he said, adding that some 8,000 pilgrims at the site would be isolated while arrangements are made for them to leave Gowa.
Apart from Adie and his friends, the status of other Malaysians in Gowa remains unclear although Foreign Affairs Minister Hishammuddin Hussein stressed that all who return would be subjected to a mandatory health screening and must observe a 14-day self quarantine period. - Mkini
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