THE Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) suggested authorities impose jail sentences on travel agencies involved in haj scams.

Its president Dr Mohd Khalid Harun said to avoid being duped, prospective pilgrims who deal with travel agencies could contact Matta if they had any doubts.

He said prospective pilgrims needed to have a haj visa to perform the pilgrimage.

“Ensure you have a haj visa. Get the proof before providing any documents such as passports and do not pay before there is a flight guarantee,” he said in a statement today.

Khalid also reminded travel agencies not to trade at will, the haj visas awarded to them and to set reasonable service charges.

“Make sure the travel agencies have first received the offer (haj visas),” he said.

Last Thursday, it was reported that 380 prospective haj pilgrims were stranded at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, believed to be  victims of a scam by a travel agency.

They were understood to have used furada visas, which are self-managed visas and reportedly issued by Saudi Arabia, which are not included in the Tabung Haji (TH) quota. 

TH had previously warned that any individual or travel agency offering haj packages without approval was committing an offence and could face legal action under the Tabung Haji Act 1995 (Act 535). – Bernama, July 11, 2022.