Malaysia says it won't allow citizens to visit the sacred Muslim sites of Mecca and Medina for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in July.

Malaysia is a Muslim-majority country and many people wait for years for an opportunity to perform the Hajj.

Yet authorities said it was not safe for the more than 30,000 pilgrims who planned to go this year.

Indonesia, which has the largest number of Muslims worldwide, has already said it won't allow the pilgrimage.

Hajj pilgrims in Mecca in 2019