The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) has
expressed concern about the rise in Umrah scams across Malaysia,
asserting that these scams not only tarnish the reputation of the travel
industry but also inflict financial and emotional distress upon devout
pilgrims.
While recognising the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture's
(MOTAC) efforts to combat this issue, MATTA believes that the current
approach lacks effective enforcement.
To tackle this, MATTA urges MOTAC to intensify actions by
strengthening its enforcement unit, specifically focusing on monitoring
social media platforms. The association emphasises the need for
proactive measures to catch scammers and unlicensed operators exploiting
these platforms for fraud.
MATTA President Nigel Wong said that inadequate enforcement against
unlicensed operators has weakened the regulations for years, and to
regain trust, he urges MOTAC and other related agencies to “adopt a
zero-tolerance approach against those engaging in fraudulent Umrah
activities.”
While advocating for cooperation between MOTAC and law enforcement
agencies, MATTA raises concerns about a proposed grading system for
Umrah operators. They fear this system might introduce complexities,
hinder innovation, burden smaller businesses, and confuse consumers.
Highlighting potential drawbacks, including inconsistencies, stifled
creativity, and unfair competition, MATTA stresses the need to carefully
consider these issues before implementing a grading system. The
association vows to work with MOTAC to safeguard Malaysian travellers
and restore confidence in the Umrah pilgrimage process.