Tourism and Culture Minister Dartuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz revealed yesterday that more than 3,600 Muslim pilgrims were cheated out of RM14 million in Umrah packages.
“Since 2009 to May this year, there have been nine Umrah cheating cases involving 3,611 victims who lost a total of RM14.1mil.
“The cases involved eight tour companies and a tour operator,” he said in Parliament yesterday, in response to a query by MP Zairil Khir Johari (DAP – Bukit Bendera).
According to The Star Online‘s Martin Carvalho, Nazri said the companies in question were investigated under the Penal Code for cheating, and that the victims of their scams have the right to sue for the reimbursement of their money.
His ministry had also revoked the licenses of the tour companies found guilty of such offences, including blacklisting them.
He went on to say that tour companies offering Umrah packages differed from other travel and tour firms in that they had to obtain special visas from the Saudi Arabian government to facilitate their tours.
The Ministry of Tourism and Culture has 38 companies listed as being qualified to offer and provide Umrah tours.
“I advise those seeking to go on the pilgrimage to verify the company offering the package with the ministry via our website.
“An umrah package usually cost about RM4,500 and companies offering the tour for less or RM3,000 is usually a scam,” he said.
