KUCHING: The Sarawak Umrah and Hajj Association (SUHA) has backed the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture’s (MOTAC) move to require travel agencies offering umrah packages to secure bank guarantees.
SUHA chairman, Ruzaiman Ghazalee, said it was intended to safeguard pilgrims and ensure disciplined industry management.
He said the move was timely following a recent incident involving 36 Malaysian pilgrims who were stranded in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
“Cases like this are not new and have happened repeatedly, highlighting serious weaknesses in the umrah industry,” he said in a statement.
Ruzaiman said weak enforcement often rendered regulations ineffective, allowing agencies that were not financially or operationally prepared to continue operating.
“As a result, pilgrims are the ones who bear the risks,” he said.
Addressing concerns that stricter rules could affect business sustainability, he said regulations were meant to filter the industry, not restrict it.
“Only agencies that are capable, disciplined and responsible should be entrusted with managing pilgrims,” he said, adding that clear and firm regulations would help create a healthier and more trusted industry, including for new agencies.
He stressed that umrah management required strong financial planning, adequate capital and disciplined cash flow management.
“In some cases, agencies rely excessively on pilgrims’ payments to fund operations. This is risky because pilgrims’ money is a trust, not working capital,” he said.
Ruzaiman likened the situation to establishing a tahfiz centre without sufficient capital or clear regulations, where good intentions alone could still lead to adverse outcomes.
As an industry body, he said SUHA supported regulatory strengthening alongside guidance and cooperation, adding that the association was ready to work with MOTAC to educate and strengthen agency capabilities.
“This measure will not only protect pilgrims but also help build an umrah industry founded on integrity and public trust,” he said.
