How did it go wrong for IMAMS? 

Jahabar Sadiq Jahabar Sadiq Updated 6 years ago · Published on 17 Dec 2017 6:58AM · 8 Comments

The duty of regulating the umrah industry is the government's, not a concession that charges money. – EPA pic, December 17, 2017.

WITHIN a day, a government with an eye towards the general election has stopped an illogical scheme to make money from the growing Muslim pilgrimage business of umrah in Malaysia.

Prime Minister Najib Razak was right by saying he didn’t agree to the charges for umrah visas under the Integrated Manasik Monitoring System (IMAMS) run by a private company.

Tourism Minister Nazri Aziz was quoted as saying he cancelled the system as it was far different from what he envisaged and told Parliament. 

His deputy Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said she cancelled it because non-Muslims were running the system that was ostensibly set up to manage the umrah pilgrims, strengthen regulatory management system as well as weed out errant umrah package operators.

Really? That isn’t the complaint from the travel industry and future pilgrims. The more than expected 300,000 pilgrims who are travelling next year want to know why they have to pay an extra RM90.10.

Not because the system is run by non-Muslims. 

After all, Nazri did say the service was only RM40 and not compulsory. 

How can anyone misunderstand his idea and just implement a mandatory system for all travel agents in the Umrah business? 

How can anyone imagine there won’t be an outcry from the potential pilgrims who have saved their money for the minor pilgrimage? 

Who decided to go ahead and launch the system anyway? Was it the minister, deputy minister or ministry officials? 

It cannot be an overnight decision. The system needs to be developed, tested and get feedback from the Saudi authorities and the industry. Were all views considered? 

And was there any government funds used to develop IMAMS or was it just a private venture? Didn’t the government consider the ownership of the firm before awarding it the concession? 

The entire episode and u-turn smacks of something bigger than just a simple misunderstanding. 

It just tells you there are people in the government who are detached and disconnected from reality and think they can profit from the growing pilgrimage business. 

Yes, the industry needs to be regulated and cheats needed to be stopped. But that’s the duty of the regulators, not a concession that charges money to do the job of the government. 

Yes, IMAMS might have been a good idea on paper but really, it costs more than the RM90.10 per pilgrim – its a potential vote per pilgrim lost for the government. – December 17, 2017.

Sign up or sign in here to comment.

Comments

  • It is so disrespectful to come out and say "we cancelled it because the company owned by non muslim". Is anything wrong to have a business owned by non muslim? Why are they confusing religion with a professional service? So was it okay to go through if the business was owned by a muslim? And what about the development cost? Who is going to bear the cost of system development if the system was rejected one day after its launch? Is the government going to compensate with taxpayer's money? Or is the private company going to be left to suffer on its own for government's incompetence?

    Posted 6 years ago by Fourth Gen pendatang citizen saf · Reply

  • All the excuses and reasons were mere "sandiwara". Be it Muslim or Non Muslim operators , the purpose is a business ventures. Obviously all the cost has to be in consideration and factoring the cost and profits is up to the operators BUT unfortunately UmnoBN Government system has created a perception and viable conditions for any one that it is free for all to fleece as long as it is officially recognise. So the morality in doing a business for a win win situation for both buyer and sellerr is lost in the world of UmnoBN Government. The " Now Everyone Can Plunder" is a fad as there is a leadership by example.

    Posted 6 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

    • Further to the above , it is just another devious plan.. Actually why need another operator and system . It reminds me of the setting up of MYEG to totally take over the documents application processing from Immigration. Previously where renew of visa and work permit for maid and forreign workers are done directly at the immigartion counter but somehow some smart alec or cronies came in and ensure the change in the guise to facilitate the processing but ensuring the money routes goes to their set up in MYEG. The Immigartion Dept will only handles the initial processing and after that it all for MYEG who also increases the processing fees for renewing. If I do remember the maid document renewal of work permit and visa at the Immigartion Dept counter was only at the most -- RM 495. When it became forced online thru' MYEG it was increased to RM 610 with them still going into Immigartion for validation. Whats the purpose?? when it should be done directly by the employee with Immigration dept instead of MYEG with increased cost. Beats me!!!! Sadly also do not really notice the Immigartion Dept increase in their efficiency of management costing as the amount of staffing are still reataine without any inclination of head count reduction. Sometimes you do see the excess staff gossiping and idling away. They need the work that was taken away from them. Speaking to some of the staff they too do not understand and infact complaint that when big concerns where MYEG are not abled to reslove are reverted to them. Sincerely they wish to be back to the old system. What nonscences is UmnoBN managing the country.???? This is exactly what happen now to the set up of the Umrah pilgrimage. An attempt to deceive with rent seeking process.

      Posted 6 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • "Prime Minister Najib Razak was right by saying he didn't agree to the charges for umrah visas under the Integrated Manasik Monitoring System (IMAMS) run by a private company."

    Thats what happen to AES right?

    Posted 6 years ago by Ujang Mohd · Reply

  • As usual, a no-responsibility government. Time to try another one for 5 years.

    Posted 6 years ago by Ramli Taro · Reply

  • The the UMNO 'genious' like these, who needs Pakatan as enemy?
    Some idiots left to their own devices, can and will fail miserably -- on their own, with no help from enemies --- this IMAMS system by BN is a perfect example.

    Posted 6 years ago by Kuasa Rakyat · Reply

  • Mavcom is doing the same thing with PSC charges. All Umrah travellers have to pay PSC 75RM - Singapore "unclean" non-Muslim pay only SGD20 and make 3x more money..How come the Umrah travellers are not upset with PSC?

    Posted 6 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • How did it go wrong for KLIA2? MAS? GST? 1MDB?

    Posted 6 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply