Latest news with #TabungHajiAct1995


New Straits Times
5 days ago
- New Straits Times
Mohd Na'im: Malaysians planning to perform haj must have valid permit, visa
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians planning to perform the haj must possess a valid permit or visa. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar said attempting to perform the haj without a valid visa is not only a breach of Saudi Arabian law but also poses significant risks to the pilgrims themselves. "This includes facing hefty fines, deportation, and being blacklisted from entering Saudi Arabia for an extended period," he said. "Such actions also risk jeopardising the longstanding cordial relations between the Malaysian and Saudi governments, and could lead to the revocation of privileges previously granted to Malaysian pilgrims," he said. He was commenting on the case of 80 Malaysian pilgrims who were detained at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) recently for attempting to travel using tourist visas. Na'im said Lembaga Tabung Haji consistently reminds prospective pilgrims not to be lured by packages offering unrealistic prices or marketed by unauthorised haj operators. "While mujamalah or furada visas are considered valid, they are exclusive privileges of the Saudi government and fall outside the official haj quota," he said. He added that under the Tabung Haji Act 1995 (Act 535), it is an offence for any travel agency or individual not licensed as a haj operator by Tabung Haji to advertise haj packages. As such, he urged the public to report any unauthorised haj promotions found on social media or websites to Tabung Haji, to help curb the activities of unlicensed operators.


The Star
26-05-2025
- The Star
QuickCheck: Are fake invitational haj visa offers being promoted on social media?
The haj quota for Malaysia this year is 31,600, which is 10,000 more than last year. However, according to the Pilgrims' Fund Board (Tabung Haji), they received 85,000 applications to perform the haj this year. With the high demand for haj visas, some unscrupulous parties are offering fake invitational haj visas (Mujamalah Visas) on social media. Is this true? Verdict: TRUE According to Tabung Haji there had been a rise in fraudulent offers of Mujamalah Visas on various social media platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. Its director (Haj Operators), Anuar Ahmad, advised those who obtain the visa to register and perform the pilgrimage through any of the 37 haj operators 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. "Tabung Haji 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 Tabung Haji," he said when met by the media here recently. Anuar said that only agencies registered under Tabung Haji 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 Tabung Haji," he said. Anuar said that the Saudi Arabian government has the sole prerogative of issuing Mujamalah Visas, which fall outside Malaysia's official haj quota. He also assured that Tabung Haji would minitor the operations of the 37 haj operators licensed for this year's haj season, compared to 25 last year. "Haj operators' 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 haj operator must maintain a consistently high level of service," he said. According to him, to date, 28.3% of pilgrims in the official quota chose to perform the haj pilgrimage through haj operators, with the rest performing the pilgrimage under the management of muassasahs (Tabung Haji). However, he said, every pilgrim is required to first receive an official offer letter from Tabung Haji before choosing the haj package. – Bernama

Barnama
26-05-2025
- Barnama
Beware Of Fake Mujamalah Visa Offers On Social Media
From Nurliyana Farhah Ruslan MAKKAH, May 26 (Bernama) -- 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.