THE TOURISM, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac) has decided to revoke the licence of Muslim pilgrimage package operator Emraz Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd effective March 11.
In a statement today, the ministry said that the cancellation of the licence is in accordance with Paragraph 8(1)(b) and (d) of the Tourism Industry Act 1992 (Act 482).
According to Motac, this is because the company was found to have violated the licence conditions and provisions of Act 482, and conducted business in a manner detrimental to the interests of the public, the tourism industry, or the national economy.
Bernama reported that police have received hundreds of reports regarding allegations of umrah package fraud involving the company since November.
So far, two directors of the company, who are a husband-and-wife pair, have been brought to court in relation to the case.
On February 13, the company and two of its directors were charged in the Kota Bharu Magistrate's Court on 51 charges of failing to comply with the order awarded by the Tribunal for Consumer Claims to repay claims amounting to RM503,221 to 17 victims.
The company was represented by directors Datuk Zulkarnain Endut, 43, and Datin Mazuin Mustafa, also 43, who pleaded not guilty and requested a trial after the charges were read out.
Prior to that, on January 15 this year, they had also pleaded not guilty at the Putrajaya Magistrate's Court on 63 counts of not complying with the tribunal’s award dated June 8 and August 25, 2023 instructing the company to repay RM589,031 to 21 victims.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing had announced on July 8 last year the suspension of the company’s licence for six months.
It was not allowed to conduct any business operations, such as advertising Umrah packages or taking on new clients, during that period.
“Within this suspension period, the company must also return all payments and documents that belong to the umrah pilgrims who chose to cancel their bookings with the company and reschedule delayed umrah travel (date),” Tiong had said. – The Vibes, March 8, 2024
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