Kuala Lumpur: 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.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anuar Ahmad, the Director of Haj Operators (PJH) at TH, 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.

Anuar emphasized that if the Mujamalah Visa is offered by a company or individual not listed among the 37 licensed PJHs, it poses a significant risk. TH does not know the capabilities of the parties involved, the location of the pilgrims' accommodation, nor the form of service that will be provided. These parties are not subject to any supervision or monitoring by TH.

He highlighted 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. He urged the public not to be easily deceived by dubious haj offers, especially those offering prices that are either too cheap or too expensive, and to avoid making any advance payments or deposits without official confirmation from TH.

Anuar clarified that the issuance of Mujamalah Visas is the sole prerogative of the Saudi Arabian government and falls outside Malaysia's official haj quota. He 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.

He noted that PJH licenses are only issued after undergoing a strict application and assessment process by TH. These licenses are valid for one haj season only, with no guarantee of automatic renewal in the following year. Therefore, each PJH must maintain a consistently high level of service.

To date, 28.3 percent of pilgrims in the official quota chose to perform the haj pilgrimage through PJHs, with the remaining pilgrims being managed by muassasahs. However, every pilgrim is required to first receive an official offer letter from TH before choosing a haj package.