MALAYSIAN haj pilgrims’ fund board, Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) has denied the presence of a ‘cartel’ system which allows agencies to become licensed haj operators (PJH). 

TH Haj executive director Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman, who is also the Malaysian haj delegation head, said such allegations are baseless given that the board picked two new PJH this year. 

“TH has selected two new PJH this year, namely Az Zuha Group Travel & Tours Sdn. Bhd and Mimm Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd to manage the pilgrimage to the holy land.

“Therefore, the ‘cartel’ allegations are completely untrue and baseless,” Syed Salleh said in a statement today. 

Yesterday, the Malaysian Umrah & Hajj Travel Agency Association (Papuh) said that TH must appoint more agencies to organise haj and umrah pilgrimages instead of operating a “cartel” system which leaves the task to charge of the same companies every year, to the detriment of travellers. 

Papuh president Razali Mohd Sham said this will prevent pilgrims from getting stranded due to visa problems.

Razali added said TH should not appoint the same agencies every year to organise pilgrimages. Instead, the agencies should be rotated every two years.

Syed Salleh today said that any travel company can apply to become a PJH and that they will be selected annually if the conditions set are fulfilled.

He said as of February 22 this year, TH had issued PJH licenses to 22 local tourism companies after going through thorough screening and selection process. 

He said in order for a local travel company to obtain a PJH licence, it is required to meet 10 strict conditions. 

“The system has been used since 2000 and was improved periodically. The system was last updated this year.

“The conditions for the selection of PJH are to ensure that local tour companies have a strong capacity and are able to provide the best haj services, including being able to take care of the welfare of Malaysian haj pilgrims,” he said.

“Any company can apply to become a licensed PJH under TH and be selected when it meets the conditions set,” he added.

Among the conditions set include experience in conducting umrah for three consecutive years, having a paid-up capital of at least RM500,000, no pending cases in court, having a clean auditor’s report for the last two years, as well as an official document issued by the Insolvency Department of Malaysia which states that the companies and individuals are not bankrupt. 

Syed Salleh explained that PJH licence applications are open annually and closes on the first day of Ramadan every year. 

He said the application to become a PJH for 2023 closed on April 2 this year and added that applications for 2024 will close on 1 Ramadan next year. – July 12, 2022.