COVID-19: Pilgrims' rally in Indonesia postponed

KUALA LUMPUR (March 19): A Muslim pilgrims’ event which is supposed to host thousands of people at the South Sulawesi province in Indonesia has been postponed over fears of the COVID-19 spread, a local official told Reuters.

The head of Gowa regency, Adnan Purichta Ichsan, said on social media late yesterday that the organisers had "finally agreed" to postpone the event, the news wire reported.

It was reported earlier that provincial authorities had been persuading the organisers to halt the event at Gowa near Makassar city after a similar event in Malaysia led to hundreds of infections.

Adnan clarified that the pilgrims would be isolated and arrangements are being made for them to leave Gowa.

Earlier reports said the event had actually begun while the regional police chief attempted a “last ditch-effort” to persuade the organisers stop it.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that Malaysians are believed to be among the thousands of participants heading for the event.

A Malaysian Embassy spokesman in Jakarta said although the embassy had issued an order banning Malaysians from attending the event, scores of Malaysians are believed to be there.

"We do not have the exact figure of Malaysians attending the event, but we are trying to locate them," he told Bernama.

A source said 83 Malaysians were already in Sulawesi for the event where the participants come from 48 other countries.