Association highlights prevalence of unlicensed umrah and hajj firms

ILLEGAL operators are having a free run providing hajj and umrah packages, causing problems to pilgrims and licensed agents.

The latest case involved the shooting incident at the KLIA Terminal 1 arrival hall where a gunman opened fire on his wife, who was waiting for the arrival of pilgrims early on the second day of Hari Raya last week.

Umrah and Hajj Travel Agency Association (Papuh) vice president Muhammad Mursyid Abu Hassan noted that the husband and wife, who were said to be umrah and hajj operators, were not licensed.

He said these unlicensed umrah and hajj package providers are blatantly taking pilgrims to perform their umrah or hajj as there is not much monitoring of these illegal entities by the government.

Mursyid said there have been numerous reports against illegal operators but they still exist.

He said the government has not monitored the situation, nor have they taken any action against these companies.

“The shooting incident was said to be over a personal matter, but what is certain was that the couple operated an unlicensed umrah and hajj operation.

“There are also other cases involving fraud. Pilgrims paid for a specific package but ended up getting another package.

“These are the problems that many have faced when they go with unlicensed agencies.

“There must be strict enforcement to stop unwarranted incidents from happening,” said Mursyid, adding there are 900 members under the association.

He also said it costs RM200,000 to obtain the umrah and hajj package providers license.

During the shooting incident, the gunman attempted to kill his wife by firing two shots but the woman’s personal bodyguard was hit instead and was listed in a serious condition.

The gunman was caught in Kota Baru, Kelantan on Monday and has been remanded for a week to facilitate investigations.

Mursyid also told The Vibes that the umrah and hajj tour business in Malaysia is moving in the right direction but admitted that the weak economy has hampered some pilgrims from fulfilling their religious obligations.

“We do not have the data but some 200,000 Malaysian pilgrims perform the umrah or hajj yearly, unlike Indonesia, which has 1.6 million pilgrims a year.”

Asked about the cheapest and most expensive packages, Mursyid said each package differs depending on the needs of the pilgrims.

“If you want a private jet to take you to Mecca, we will provide that but it will be expensive. If you want a hotel that is near the mosque, the price will be higher,” he said.

“It all depends on what you need. There is no specific price to say this is the cheapest or the most expensive package,” he said.

But basically, Mursyid said, the issues now are the lack of enforcement against the unlicensed operators, the fall of the ringgit and weak buying power.

“This is not about politics but this is the reality.”

Agreeing with Mursyid was another licensed operator Mohd Azri Abdul Razak, who said there are also many do-it-yourself (DIY) companies who offer the umrah and hajj packages.

“Under the Tourism Act 1992, it is against the law to run the umrah and hajj business without a legitimate license.

“The authorities must look into this matter to avoid any unwarranted incidents,” he said. – April 17, 2024.