SEPANG, Selangor: Prospective pilgrims are urged not to be misled by cheap haj packages offered by operators or organisers who are not registered with the Pilgrims Fund Board or Tabung Haji (TH).
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, warned that some unlicensed companies offer packages as low as RM15,000 to RM20,000, which are often unrealistic.
“People are easily attracted to low prices, but these offers are usually unreasonable. When you compare them with legitimate costs, it’s clear that the amount promised is far below the actual cost of performing the haj. Many end up losing their money and stranded because they were lured by the cheap packages,” he said.
He said this after closing the ‘Haj, Umrah and Tourism Carnival’ of the haj handlers (PJH) for the 1447H/2026M season here today.
Na’im warned that fraudulent activities often involve the promotion of Mujamalah or Furada visas, which fall outside TH’s jurisdiction.
The Saudi Arabian Government, he said, will enforce stricter regulations in the upcoming haj season, allowing only individuals with valid permits to perform the fifth pillar of Islam.
“Malaysians are known for their discipline, and the Saudi Arabian authorities have consistently praised this. We must uphold these standards and never violate the regulations, so as not to tarnish the good names of Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, or Tabung Haji, which is a haj institution renowned for its credibility,” he said.
The three-day carnival, which began on Friday, featured 34 licensed PJH for the 1447H/2026M Haj season.
It served as an ideal platform for prospective pilgrims to obtain accurate information and select haj packages from licensed operators in accordance with TH standards and Saudi Arabian regulations. – BERNAMA
