Tabung Haji (TH) will investigate into the case of of 300 Malaysians stranded in Mecca after they were swindled by a travel agency offering cheap haj packages.

Religious affairs minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Na’im Mokhtar advised the pilgrims to contact the Malaysian embassy in Saudi Arabia for assistance.

He reminded Muslims to be wary of unlicensed travel agencies offering cheap trips.

Na’im said it was illegal for travel agencies to sell haj packages without TH approval under the Tabung Haji Act 1995 (Act 535).

TH has appointed 25 local travel companies to serve this haj season, which Malaysians are advised to use for travel to Mecca.

About 300 pilgrims were reported to be stranded in Mecca after their travel agency failed to obtain permission for them to perform the haj.

The group realised they had been deceived when they found out that they had been issued a tourist visa instead of a haj visa. – May 12, 2024.