Johor govt pledges support after 47 Malaysian pilgrims fall for Haj scam
JOHOR BARU, June 15 — The Johor government today asked families of Malaysian pilgrims allegedly duped in a Haj travel scam to place full trust in the authorities as investigations continue.
Johor Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid said the state is ready to help resolve the case as well as educate the public to be more cautious.
'We are saddened that such scams involving the Haj continue to happen. What's more distressing is that the victims reportedly include elderly pilgrims and those in poor health.
'I am closely following the case and pray for the safety of the affected pilgrims,' he said in a statement.
He stressed that there are no shortcuts to fulfilling the Haj and advised Muslims to rely on the expertise and guidance of Tabung Haji as the official pilgrimage fund.
Yesterday, local media reported that 47 Malaysians were allegedly scammed by a local Haj agent, believed to be a well-known religious figure.
According to news reports, one victim's child said her parents and aunt departed for Saudi Arabia with the agent on May 9.
Upon arrival in Jeddah, the pilgrims were allegedly forced to walk to Mecca through dangerous routes without documents, due to Saudi Arabia's strict enforcement against those without valid Haj visas.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
8 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Teen murder suspect preoccupied with thoughts of younger sibling, says Nancy
Women, family and community development minister Nancy Shukri said the incident should serve as a lesson that mental health support and treatment must be strengthened. PETALING JAYA : The teenager suspected of murdering his mother and older brother has demonstrated good behaviour while in police custody, women, family and community development minister Nancy Shukri said. Nancy said the 17-year old 'remains preoccupied with thoughts of his younger brother', the Borneo Post reported. The suspect's 13-year old sibling was found alive but injured on the same day the boy was arrested. 'This reflects the heavy mental burden he is carrying,' she was quoted as saying. On June 12, police said they arrested the suspect at his home in Bukit Rambai, Melaka. The suspect's 51-year-old mother, who was a school teacher, and 21-year-old brother were found in the living room with multiple stab wounds. An early investigation suggested that the suspect was likely emotionally distressed due to pressure to excel academically. Nancy said the incident should serve as a lesson that mental health support and treatment must be strengthened. She said there was a need for a comprehensive and sustained approach to addressing mental health issues, particularly among teenagers, through multi-agency cooperation and community-based strategies. She also highlighted the importance of expanding intervention programmes such as the One-Stop Social Support Centre and mobile services using community counter buses to reach those in need of psychosocial support. 'We bring the mobile counter buses into communities to identify those who may not even realise they are facing mental health issues,' she said. 'Some only become aware that they need help after going through interactive sessions like drawing activities or brief counselling.'
Malay Mail
11 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Ampang cop taken off duty pending probe into alleged indecent proposal in viral clip
KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — Police are investigating an alleged act of insulting a woman's modesty involving a police officer, following a video purportedly showing a conversation between the two individuals that went viral on social media yesterday. Ampang Jaya District Police chief ACP Mohd Azam Ismail urged the woman in the video to come forward and assist with the investigation. 'The police officer involved has been identified and removed from current duties; a disciplinary investigation is also underway against the officer,' he said in a statement today. He said the 1-minute 30-second video was detected at about 5 pm yesterday, after a TikTok user uploaded it on a personal account, and it went viral on Instagram. Mohd Azam said the investigation is being conducted under Section 509 of the Penal Code (for insulting modesty) and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (for improper use of network facilities). Members of the public with information related to the incident are urged to contact investigating officer ASP Hida Hayati via the Ampang Jaya District Police Headquarters (IPD) hotline at 03-42897222 to assist in the investigation. — Bernama
Malay Mail
11 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Bukit Aman launches disciplinary investigation into Ampang cop over alleged hotel invite in viral clip
KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — Bukit Aman's Integrity and Standards Compliance Department (JIPS) is conducting a disciplinary investigation into a police officer accused of inviting a woman to meet and check into a hotel, as alleged in a video that has gone viral on social media. Its director, Datuk Seri Azri Ahmad, said a police report on the incident was lodged yesterday by the chief of the Pandan Indah police station. 'The case is being investigated under Section 509 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. 'JIPS Bukit Aman is also carrying out a concurrent disciplinary probe into the junior police officer involved, including aspects of supervision,' he said in a statement today. He added that firm action would be taken against any officer or supervisor if complaints are found to be substantiated. Earlier, national news agency Bernama reported that the woman who uploaded the video of the conversation — allegedly insulting to female modesty — has been urged to come forward to assist with the investigation. Ampang Jaya district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Azam Ismail said police had detected a 1-minute-30-second video showing a conversation between a police officer and a woman of unidentified ethnicity. The clip, which allegedly demeaned the woman's modesty, was posted on TikTok by a user named shaamajinbuulalu and later spread to Instagram.
