Kuala Lumpur: Muslims have been urged to exercise tabayyun, the practice of verifying and investigating, before committing to Hajj packages that appear dubious, in a bid to avoid falling victim to scams. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar highlighted the persistent issue of fraudulent Hajj packages, noting that scammers increasingly use celebrity endorsements to attract unsuspecting pilgrims.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, with the first group of Malaysian pilgrims set to depart on April 29, this period is when fraudulent agents often target vulnerable individuals. Mohd Na'im urged Muslims planning to perform Hajj to verify their packages with Tabung Haji to ensure they are legitimate.

Mohd Na'im reminded the public that only 37 officially licensed Hajj Pilgrimage Operators (PJH) are certified by Lembaga Tabung Haji, warning against engaging with unlicensed agents. He emphasized the financial risk of failing to properly verify the legitimacy of an agent or package, which can result in losing hard-earned savings.

The minister criticized the use of celebrity endorsements for unverified Hajj packages, pointing out that many celebrities may not be aware of their involvement in fraudulent schemes. He advised potential pilgrims to always double-check with authorities like Tabung Haji, given the large sums involved.

He made these remarks while speaking to reporters at a house key handover ceremony under YAPEIM's Sinar Lestari programme to Mashitoh Khasim, a caf© assistant at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), in Kampung Rawa.

Mohd Na'im also urged potential pilgrims to adhere to Saudi Arabia's strict Hajj regulations, especially regarding securing a valid permit, to ensure a smooth and lawful pilgrimage. He stressed that performing Hajj without a valid permit is prohibited by Saudi authorities and could jeopardize privileges for future Malaysian pilgrims.