IMAMS TO BE REPLACED
THE Integrated Manasik Monitoring System, devised to curb umrah scams, is cancelled a day after its launch. The deputy tourism and culture minister says a better mechanism, administered by Muslims and which will not burden the people financially, is in the offing.
KUALA LUMPUR: Stakeholders welcomed the government’s cancellation of the implementation of the Integrated Manasik Monitoring System (Imams).
They said it was the right move and called for a more effective mechanism that benefited all.
The Malaysian Muslim Consumers’ Association (PPIM) said Imams should have been implemented after a thorough study had been conducted, including a trial run.
PPIM lead activist Datuk Nadzim Johan said consumers were left in the dark when the announcement on the new system was made.
“We were shocked to hear about its implementation, and people were worried.
“Where will the money go if they carry out such a system?
“A thorough research should have been done first. Maybe the government could do a test trial (to gauge) public response.
“It (the cost) may not be a lot, but it is still not necessary to place this burden on the people,” he said yesterday.
On Friday, Deputy Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, who is in charge of the Umrah Regulatory Management Council, announced that all 65 travel agencies accorded with the Muasassah (umrah special licence) would have to adopt and comply with Imams.
Imams was, however, cancelled a day after the announcement.
Nadzim said non-governmental organisations had met yesterday and decided to hold a rally to protest the implementation, a plan that was halted following the turn of events.
“Cancelling the system was the right move. We had planned to organise a rally. Its cancellation came as a relief to all of us.”
Travel agencies also breathed a sigh of relief.
CS Holidays Sdn Bhd (umrah and hajj) manager Naim Shauqy Ashari said the new system would have seen pilgrims paying more.
He said the company had received a letter from the ministry instructing it to adopt and comply with the new system.
“We did not apply for it because we thought it was not proven and had no track record.”