MUSLIMS in Malaysia have been advised to be cautious of haj packages involving furada visas offered by travel agencies that are not licensed by Tabung Haji (TH) to avoid becoming stranded at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

Head of the Malaysian haj group Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman issued the reminder ahead of Wukuf Day, which is the culmination of the haj pilgrimage to fall on June 27.

“Every year there are reports of people stranded at KLIA because they did not have the flight tickets and visa to perform the pilgrimage.

“In a similar case last year, the pilgrims had paid between RM40,000 and RM80,000. This year, the amount would be higher with the increased costs,” he told a press conference on the development of the haj operations here.

He said the issuance of the visa to perform the haj, apart from the quota given to Malaysia, is only by the Saudi government. 

Malaysia received a quota of 31,600 pilgrims for the 1444 Hijrah haj season from the Saudi government.

Syed Saleh advised prospective pilgrims who obtained the visa to use the haj package services provided by haj pilgrimage operators licensed by TH.

He said TH has appointed 22 travel companies as operators for Malaysian pilgrims headed for the Holy Land.

Individuals or travel agencies that offer haj package services without TH’s approval is subjected to legal action under the Tabung Haji Act 1995. – Bernama, June 6, 2023.