#SHOWBIZ: Amir of Ukays: 'Even though the costs were fully covered, I am still sad and disappointed'

New Straits Times

12 hours ago

SEPANG: Legendary Malaysian singer, Amir of Ukays, has spoken of his "sadness and disappointment" after his plans to perform the haj pilgrimage were dashed, despite all costs allegedly being covered.
The 'offer' he received, he says, "never materialised."
Amir, 56, was among 82 prospective haj pilgrims who were forced to abandon their journey to Mecca after allegedly being defrauded by unscrupulous individuals.
They were left stranded at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) yesterday.
Amir explained that he and his wife, Sarimah Ahmad, 51, received the offer on April 9 from his wife's colleague.
The colleague claimed that all expenses would be fully sponsored by an unnamed tycoon.
He stated that all arrangements were handled by his wife's friend, who was also a victim, rather than an agent of the alleged sponsor.
They were included in a WhatsApp group called 'Tetamu Allah Haji Akbar 2025'.
"We were excited and agreed to accept the offer because it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Amir said. "We received all information through a WhatsApp group, but the well-known travel agency supposedly handling the trip wasn't part of the group."
He continued: "We attended a haj course in Ampang on May 24, and an offer letter with the agency's letterhead was issued in our names on May 27. We were also promised a Mujamalah visa."
"We were scheduled to depart for the Holy Land at 5pm last Sunday (June 1)," he explained at a recent press conference at the KLIA District Police Headquarters.
"All arrangements, including vaccinations and other necessities, costing almost RM4,000, were paid for by us because the party involved claimed we would be reimbursed. In fact, we were also promised spending money."
However, he said, they were unaware of a WhatsApp group announcement that their flight had been cancelled last Sunday.
"At that time, my wife and I were already at KLIA. After finding out there was no flight, we stayed overnight at a hotel in Sepang. The next day, we were informed that the flight would depart at 5am on Tuesday, which made me confident that we would indeed leave for the Holy Land."
"When the incident unfolded, I saw all the pilgrims at KLIA, but we waited, and no one arrived with visas and passports," he recounted.
"Then, the friend handling the arrangements told us the relevant party was en route to the airport and that we would depart from the Bunga Raya Complex on a specially chartered plane."
The "Di Sana Menanti Di Sini Menunggu" singer said that despite their long wait since the previous evening, the party meant to bring their visas and passports still hadn't arrived by the scheduled departure time.
He admitted feeling uneasy at that point, before realising they might be victims of fraud, even though the friend handling the matter continued to assure them they would depart for the Holy Land.
"I believed the offer because I had a letter from the travel agency, and as the sponsored person, I trusted that all matters would be handled by the relevant party since it was all free," Amir said.
"I also don't know anything about the agency or who is behind it. I've filed a police report, and after that, the party involved told me that our passports could be collected at a house in Setia Alam," he said, expressing his hope that the public would be more careful with any future offers.
Meanwhile, Dang Wangi District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Sulizme Affendy Sulaiman, confirmed that his department had received seven reports regarding the case from several stranded haj pilgrims.
"I confirm that I have received the report, and an investigation is being conducted under Section 420/511 of the Penal Code," he said.
This follows recent media reports that approximately 80 prospective haj pilgrims, scheduled to depart for the Holy Land, were forced to cancel their noble intentions after allegedly being detained at KLIA.
Earlier, Amir had expressed his gratitude after his long-held wish to perform the haj pilgrimage became a reality, and he was even more delighted to be travelling to the Holy Land with his wife.