Tabung Haji: Beware of fake Mujamalah Visa offers on social media

MAKKAH — The Pilgrims’ Fund Board or Tabung Haji (TH) takes seriously the rise in fraudulent offers of Mujamalah Visas, which are now actively being promoted by irresponsible parties through various social media platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.

Its Director (Haj Operators — PJH), Anuar Ahmad, advised those who obtain the visa to register and perform the pilgrimage through any of the 37 PJHs licensed by Tabung Haji under Section 28 of the Tabung Haji Act 1995 (Act 535) to safeguard their welfare and ensure a smooth pilgrimage.

“If the Mujamalah Visa is offered by a company or individual not listed among the 37 licensed PJHs, it poses a big risk.

“TH does not know the capabilities of the parties concerned, the location of the pilgrims’ accommodation, nor the form of service that will be provided. What’s more concerning is that these parties are not subject to any supervision or monitoring by TH,” he said when met by the media here recently.

Anuar said that only agencies registered under TH are allowed to manage Malaysian haj pilgrims to ensure every stage of the pilgrimage runs smoothly and to avoid any risk of fraud or abuse.

“Therefore, we urge the public not to be easily deceived by dubious haj offers, especially those offering prices that are too cheap or too expensive. Avoid making any advance payments or deposits without official confirmation from TH,” he said.

Anuar said that the issuance of Mujamalah Visas is the sole prerogative of the Saudi Arabian government and falls outside Malaysia’s official haj quota.

He also assured that TH would continue to strengthen comprehensive monitoring of the operations of the 37 PJHs licensed for this year’s haj season, compared to 25 PJHs last year, to ensure that the welfare of Malaysian pilgrims in the Holy Land is always safeguarded.

“PJH licenses are only issued after going through a strict application and assessment process by TH. They are valid for one haj season only, with no guarantee of automatic renewal in the following year.

“Therefore, each PJH must maintain a consistently high level of service,” he said.

According to him, to date, 28.3 per cent of pilgrims in the official quota chose to perform the haj pilgrimage through PJHs, with the rest performing the pilgrimage under the management of muassasahs.

However, he said, every pilgrim is required to first receive an official offer letter from TH before choosing the haj package. — BERNAMA