LEMBAGA Tabung Haji (TH) has reiterated that there is no cartel system, which allows only certain agencies to become licensed pilgrimage operators (PJH).

Responding to Malaysian Umrah and Hajj Travel Agency Association (Papuh), which urged the haj pilgrims fund board to allow more agencies to become pilgrimage operators, TH said any travel company can apply to become a PJH and that they will be selected annually if the conditions set are fulfilled.

“As of February 22, TH had issued PJH licences to 22 local tourism companies after going through a thorough screening and selection process,” TH Haj executive director Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman said.

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

“The system has been in use since 2000 and was improved periodically. The system was last updated this year,” he said.

“The conditions for the selection of PJH are to ensure that the 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 pilgrims.”

Papuh president Razali Mohd Sham told The Malaysian Insight that TH was at fault for causing hundreds of prospective haj pilgrims to be stranded at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport last month.

He said the problem lies with TH when it decided to issue haj operator licences to certain “likeable” agencies.

“It is TH’s fault. The licence is given to certain agencies. The agencies TH does not like will not be given the licence,” he said.

“What sort of criteria do these favoured agencies have? We don’t know. As for us (Papuh), we feel TH should allow more agencies with good track records to take pilgrims for haj or umrah.

“They can’t just use the same agent. There should be a change of system in TH.”

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) last month reportedly cleared TH of any wrongdoing, saying they have not received any complaints regarding the alleged cartel system.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said 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 delegations.

“We have not been informed (on the matter),” he said.

Former deputy minister in charge of religious affairs Fuziah Salleh told The Malaysian Insight that the issue of stranded pilgrims at KLIA last month was not TH’s fault.

The Kuantan MP recalled how a similar incident occurred in 2019 when many were duped by the furada visas issued by the Saudi embassy.

“There is another visa given by the Saudi embassy – the furada visa, which is given to VIPs, for example ministers. They can request the furada visa and it will be issued at the discretion of the Saudi government,” Fuziah said.

“But some irresponsible individuals will misuse this visa to dupe others into believing that they can perform the haj with this furada visa.

“The furada visa has nothing to do with Tabung Haji. It is completely different.” – August 2, 2022.