KUALA LUMPUR: Muslims in the country are reminded to be more vigilant with offers to engage in haj by proxy (badal haji) services by travel agencies or certain individuals, to avoid becoming fraud victims.
Lembaga Tabung Haji haj executive director Datuk Seri Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman said every individual from outside Mecca is required to obtain a haj visa to perform the haj pilgrimage as prescribed by the Saudi Arabian government.
He said that even local residents need to get a permit from the Saudi Arabian authorities for that purpose.
"Tabung Haji will continue to remind the public to be extra vigilant to avoid becoming a victim of fraud.
"The haj by proxy package, if it is around RM1,000 to RM3,500 and above, is way too cheap compared with the original price of the haj permit, the lowest price of which is around SR4,000 (RM4,800), and other expenses that have to be borne by the local residents in Saudi Arabia to perform the haj,” he said in a statement today (May 20).
Syed Saleh said that Tabung Haji and its agencies are not involved in any form of promotion, offering, or even the provision of haj by proxy services. - Bernama
