Tourism Ministry to take action against operators offering doubtful 'badal haji' packages

KUALA LUMPUR: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry will take necessary action against tour operators actively offering questionable haj by proxy (badal haji) packages through social media of late.

The ministry in a statement on Wednesday (June 22) said it took the matter seriously as the rates were much lower than the package and haj permit charges imposed by the Saudi Arabian government.

"The ministry will take appropriate actions under the Tourism Industry Act 1992 (Act 482) where Section 8 (d) of Act 482 states that tourism companies cannot conduct business that is detrimental to the interests of the public, the tourism industry or the national economy," read the statement.

It said violators would face licence suspension or revocation.

The Tourism Ministry also advised the public to only purchase packages offered by licensed operators to ensure their rights are protected.

The list of travel companies licensed with the ministry can be found at www.motac.gov.my/semakan/umrah, it added.

Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) operations director (Guidance) Tengku Aziz Raja Abdullah was quoted as saying that various advertisements promoting haj by proxy packages at questionable rates should be given serious attention as it seemed to be a deliberate act to make an easy profit.

He said that the TH which plays an important role in the Holy Land did not offer the haj by proxy services this year due to various rules set by the Saudi government. - Bernama