KUALA LUMPUR: The Integrated Manasik Monitoring System (Imams) would have been a burden to pilgrims if it was implemented.
Titiwangsa Umno Youth chief Nazir Hussin Akhtar Hussin said this of the system which was cancelled a day after it was announced.
Tourism and Culture Deputy Minister Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin announced the cancellation, a day after she made the announcement.
Nazir argued pilgrims would have to pay the Goods and Services Tax (GST) which cost about RM5.10, apart from the RM45 for the system and management as well as RM40 for insurance.
“We understand that the government’s decision to implement such system to address the growing number of umrah frauds in the country but it is not the best method.
“It is true that over the years we have heard about the news of pilgrims whe became victims of scams.
“Tabung Haji (TH) should take that responsibility and not the non-Muslim companies that handles the system which among those given with the Muasassah (umrah special license). How much profit goes into the company?” said Nazir in a statement.
Yesterday the Umrah Regulatory Management Council announced that all 65 travel agencies accorded with the Muasassah (umrah special licence) to adopt and comply with Imams.
Imams will better manage umrah pilgrims, boost the regulatory management system as well as eradicate the errant operators, Ermieyati had said in making the announcement.
As of last month, a total of 234 licensed travel agencies under the ministry offering the umrah packages, of which 65 are travel agencies with Muasassah while the other 169 travel agencies are not accorded with the umrah special license.
Under Imams, several safeguard measures were introduced to beef up umrah management in Malaysia as well as wipe out the fraudulent activities of the umrah scammers for good.