THE Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) will persist in running various awareness campaigns to ensure the public does not fall victim to fraudulent schemes involving Hajj and Umrah arrangements.
MOTAC Secretary-General Datuk Shaharuddin Abu Sohot said while matters relating to Hajj fall under the jurisdiction of Lembaga Tabung Haji, the ministry actively collaborates with the body to tackle the growing issue of Hajj-related scams.
“On MOTAC’s part, we will continue to carry out public awareness campaigns so that people do not fall for these fraudulent schemes, including those involving Umrah,” he said.
“We have observed that such cases occur every year, so awareness is crucial to help the public distinguish between legitimate offers and deceitful practices,” he told reporters after officiating the Kelantan edition of the 2025 Citrawarna Siam Malaysia Festival at Wat Machimmaram in Tumpat last night.
He added that the ministry has already taken strict action against several companies found to be involved in Hajj and Umrah fraud.
“We have revoked the licences of several companies and suspended others. MOTAC consistently takes firm action on these matters to prevent their recurrence,” he said. - June 28, 2025