“HAD he told us we’d be facing a nightmare like this, I wouldn’t have gone, not even for RM10,000,” lamented Syed, 63, one of 47 Malaysian pilgrims allegedly duped by a bogus Hajj organiser operating from Batu Pahat.
Syed had travelled to Saudi Arabia with his wife and sister-in-law under the impression that they were participating in a legitimate pilgrimage. For five days in Madinah, all appeared well—until the group attempted to travel to Makkah. It was then that their ordeal began.
“We were told we’d be taking a ‘back route’ to avoid detection by Saudi authorities. We thought it was just a quiet road—but instead, we had to climb hills, hide in bushes, walk behind factories, and even cross highways,” he told Sinar Harian.
Upon reaching Makkah, the group was confined to a flat for several days. Their attempt to proceed to Arafah was thwarted when Saudi police stopped their bus, discovering the group lacked valid Hajj visas.
Syed recalled being smuggled from Jeddah to Makkah using various forms of transport—including cars, buses, and lorries—arranged by locals. “There was no internet, no clear communication, and no one could speak Arabic. Had any transport failed to arrive, we could’ve been stranded in the desert heat, which reached 50°C. It could have been fatal.”
Each pilgrim had paid around RM27,000 for the trip, yet were asked to pay additional charges upon arrival. Syed said they were enticed by a professionally presented itinerary and the religious image of the organiser, whom they believed to be trustworthy.
“But once we arrived, it was nothing like what was promised. Some fell ill with coughs and fatigue. We were handed only prayer mats and told to treat the suffering as a test of faith. No proper medical assistance was provided,” he said.
He urged other Malaysians—especially senior citizens awaiting official Hajj approval—to be cautious. “Even if the organiser is known or active in religious circles, don’t fall for appearances. We spent thousands, didn’t complete our pilgrimage, and were placed in danger. It’s traumatic.”
Sharifah, 57, Syed’s sister-in-law, said the experience continues to haunt her. “Sometimes I wake in the middle of the night, reliving what happened,” she said.
She described the gruelling journey in vivid detail: “From Madinah, everything seemed fine. But in Makkah, we suffered. We crossed the desert at night, had rationed food, and once in the apartment, we were told to stay inside with the lights off from 7pm. If we wanted to eat, we had to use our phone torches.”
Despite the trauma, Sharifah still hopes to one day complete the Hajj—legally, and through the proper channels. - June 22, 2025
