‘BE WISE IN CHOOSING HAJ-RELATED SERVICES’
Low-priced services offered by individuals may not be authentic, says TH official
MALAYSIAN pilgrims should be wary of unknown individuals offering haj-related services at cheap prices, as there is no guarantee the services are authentic.
Datuk Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman, head of Malaysia’s 1438H haj delegation, said although the number of cases was small, they happened every year.
“Don’t be influenced by individuals who claim to do all kinds of things for the pilgrims — accepting dam p a yments, helping with tawaf, stoning by proxy and sacrificing animals.
“There is no way to verify if they actually perform these acts, or whether they are done properly,” he said here recently.
Syed Saleh said Tabung Haji (TH) offered these services, with the assurance that they would be performed in accordance with the Islamic law.
“We have some control in our buildings, but some individuals may approach our pilgrims when they are walking to or from the Grand Mosque. Maybe the pilgrims would be attracted by the low prices.
“But are they sure of the authenticity of the services offered? Why go with total strangers when TH already has the same services?” he said.
Syed Saleh said TH had received positive feedback from haj pilgrims on the accommodations and services at the maktab and zones in Mecca and Madinah.
“We will continue to give our best and keep improving where we can.
“So far, there have been no major problems faced by haj pilgrims that we cannot resolve,” he said.