Makkah: There have been no cases involving Malaysian pilgrims using fake visas in the Holy Land, Malaysian Haj delegation head Mohd Hisham Harun confirmed. He said tight controls and close monitoring of pilgrims' documentation had helped ensure smooth entry procedures and compliance with regulations set by the Saudi government.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Hisham urged pilgrims not to be easily misled by dubious haj package offers ahead of the Day of Arafah, expected on May 26. He emphasized that only those with valid haj visas are permitted to enter the Holy Land and perform the haj. He cautioned against desperation leading to vulnerability to fraudulent haj package offers.

Mohd Hisham highlighted that the Saudi government has issued a strict warning against using visas other than haj visas, such as visit, tourist, work, or student visas, for entry into Makkah, especially to the holy sites of Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina. Legal action could be taken against individuals who violate this rule, potentially affecting the diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

In a separate development, Tabung Haji announced that the opportunity to perform Qurban worship (animal sacrifice) in the Holy Land through the THiJARI system remains open until May 20, with a fee of RM810 for a sheep.