“All four cases are close contacts of positive Covid-19 Omicron cases who returned to Malaysia after performing umrah in Saudi Arabia on Dec 12 and were confirmed positive for the Omicron variant on Dec 24,” he said in a statement.

There are now a total of five locally transmitted cases of the variant, with the first one detected in Kuching last month.

Overall, Malaysia now has 122 Omicron cases after the Institute for Medical Research confirmed today that it had detected 54 cases among overseas travellers.

Khairy said that of the 54 imported cases announced today, 39 are from Saudi Arabia, seven from UAE, four from UK, two from Nigeria and one each from France and Kazakhstan.

Fears about the high number of Covid-19 Omicron variant cases discovered among those returning from Mecca saw Khairy last week announce a temporary suspension of all umrah trips from Jan 8.

Meanwhile, pilgrims who have just returned from umrah must undergo quarantine at designated centres.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the Cabinet will meet tomorrow to discuss the suspension of umrah trips following the threat of a wave of Omicron infections.

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