THE Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) has not received any complaints regarding alleged abuse of power in Tabung Haji (TH), said its chief Azam Baki.

Azam told The Malaysian Insight that no report has been lodged so far following a viral letter of alleged misconduct involving TH chairman Azman Mokhtar and chief executive officer Amrin Awaluddin in managing haj delegation.

“We have not been informed (on the matter),” said Azam when contacted.

In the lettert, it was alleged that Amrin had abused his power in allowing Azman to perform the haj with his family members.

The anonymous letter also alleged that Azman had instructed TH executive director Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman to pick his nephew as a haj officer (petugas haji).

Azman is also accused of bringing his wife’s family members and relatives to perform haj without following proper procedure.

Yesterday, TH denied the presence of a ‘cartel’ system that allows agencies to become licensed haj operators.

Syed Saleh, who is also the Malaysian haj delegation head, said such allegations are baseless given that the board picked two new operators this year.

“TH has selected two new opearators this year, 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.

A day before, 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 that leaves the task to the same companies every year, to the detriment of travellers.

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

Razali added that TH should not appoint the same agencies every year to organise pilgrimages. Instead, the agencies should be rotated every two years. – July 13, 2022.