KUALA LUMPUR – The Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry (Motac) is considering the option of taking direct control of Umrah travel packages to counter the occurrence of scam incidents and ensure a seamless pilgrimage journey.
Its minister Tiong King Sing said that if the government approves the proposal, the ministry will establish a dedicated committee responsible for overseeing matters such as pricing and application procedures before entrusting pilgrimages to reputable travel agencies.
“This move aims to guarantee a smooth, transparent, and responsibly managed Umrah journey for Malaysians, thereby preventing potential scam cases in the future. Additionally, it could lead to cost savings, resulting in more affordable pilgrimage options,” he announced in a Facebook post on Friday.
Tiong said that the proposed committee would require all travel agencies handling Umrah pilgrimages to report every customer-related activity during the pilgrimage to Motac, irrespective of their operational history.
This proactive approach would enable Motac to closely monitor the pilgrimages, ensuring that travel agencies fulfil all promises made in their advertisements.
The committee, to be led by Deputy Minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, will hold travel agencies accountable and contribute to the overall integrity of Umrah packages.
Earlier, Tiong disclosed the ministry’s plan to conduct a thorough review of all companies offering Umrah packages within a month through a newly established committee, led by Khairul.
He stressed the urgency of the review to prevent scams, with the ministry expecting a comprehensive report, including the companies’ categories and business records, within the stipulated time frame.
“I want a detailed report on these companies handling Umrah pilgrimages. This is to ensure each travel agency conducts business responsibly and does not neglect their customers,” Tiong said.
Despite Motac revoking the licences of companies involved in scams, Tiong expressed concern over ongoing complaints. Some travel agents continue to promote Umrah packages without delivering on promises, leaving pilgrims stranded or without the services they were assured.
“Worse, the Umrah pilgrimage could not contact the said travel agency when they reached the Saudi Arabia airport. This inhumane travel agency company simply lets go (of their responsibility),” he said.
In another development, Tiong announced his intention to make a courtesy call to the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Malaysia, Mesaad Ibrahim Al Sulaim, and the Saudi Arabian Minister of Haj and Umrah, Tawfig Al-Rabiah, to discuss the Haj quota for Malaysia.
He expressed hope that the ministry’s initiatives would safeguard and streamline the Umrah pilgrimage process in the future, urging travel agencies to be honest, responsible, and committed to delivering the best services to their customers. – November 24, 2023