KUANTAN: Prospective umrah (minor pilgrimage) pilgrims are being taken for a ride by being told they only need to fork out RM3,000 from their savings while the remaining amount would be sponsored by a 'Good Samaritan'.
This is among the latest tactics deployed by bogus umrah syndicates to lure would-be pilgrims to register with them but the truth is such packages do not exist.
Pahang Tourism and Culture Ministry director Datuk Edros Yahya said such tactics were widely used in rural areas and Felda schemes where the culprits daringly conduct their promotions at mosques and surau.
He said the lack of information led many people from the rural areas and Felda schemes to easily fall victim to the syndicates.
“If the package is below RM5,000 then something is not right. There are those who offer the package for RM3,000 and claim the balance is sponsored by a Good Samaritan or ‘Hamba Allah’.
“Those who are convinced about the package make the full payment and only realise that he or she has been duped when they are supposed to leave to perform their umrah,” he told NSTP when contacted today.
Edros said his ministry was working closely with various agencies including the police, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry, Felda, Pahang Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council’s to equip those in rural areas with better information on umrah packages.
“We have informed the public not to be easily convinced by such packages as the charges do not make sense. If someone offers a package claiming the balance will be sponsored, do not immediately sign up but check who is the sponsor.
“Prospective umrah pilgrims must not make hasty decisions because apart from not being able to perform umrah, he or she will also suffer losses amounting to thousands of ringgit,” he said.
Recently, the Tourism and Culture Ministry was considering increasing the compound issued to errant tour operators who were involved in bogus umrah packages.
It is learnt that plans to impose a higher compound amount is in the final stages as the current compound of RM5,000 was considered too low.
Get the latest World Cup 2018 scores, highlights and updates from our dedicated World Cup page