NEW MECHANISM TO REPLACE IMAMS

Ministry looking at waiving GST

ANEW mechanism will be introduced to replace the short-lived Integrated Manasik Monitoring System (Imams), which was supposedly mooted to crack the whip on umrah scams.

Undaunted by the repeal of the controversial pilgrim management system, Deputy Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin warned those involved in umrah scams would not get away scot-free, despite Imams’ removal.

Imams was cancelled after a public outcry against the system, which some quarters said could inadvertently lead to the exploitation of pilgrims, and criticism of its non-Muslim management which was not well-versed in Islamic and Muslim pilgrimage affairs.

Mas Ermieyati yesterday said her ministry was looking into waiving the Goods and Services Tax under the new mechanism.

“We have received suggestions on how to better manage umrah pilgrims. We will look into them and will take the new mechanism to the ministry, as well as the Umrah Regulatory Management Council.

“Imams’ cancellation does not mean that we will let you get away. I will never let you get away this time. We know who you are,” Mas Ermieyati said in a message directed at “scammers”.

On matters concerning non-Muslims managing Imams, Mas Ermieyati gave her assurance that it would not be repeated.

She acknowledged that the matter would not be immediately resolved, even with the resignation of a non-Muslim chief operating officer of the company which managed Imams.

She said she was not given the right information about the company before her press conference on Imams on Friday.

“I only got to know that the company managing Imams had non-Muslims on its board of directors after I announced its implementation on Friday.

“I was not given the right information prior to the announcement.

“I will make sure that this will not happen again under the new mechanism.”

Present at the press conference was ministry secretary-general Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah, who told the media that Imams had been repealed.

Imams was announced on Friday to crack the whip on umrah scams, bring errant operators to book, as well as protect people from becoming victims of fraud.

Mas Ermieyati had said Imams, which would bolster the pilgrims’ regulatory management system, had been approved and recognised by Saudi Arabia.

She said Imams was the only official portal for umrah visa applications that would be processed by the Saudi embassy in Malaysia.

Each pilgrim using Imams will be charged RM45.

The Umrah Regulatory Management Council had made it mandatory for all 65 travel agencies accorded with the Muassasah status (authorisation to manage pilgrims) and the umrah special licence to adopt and comply with Imams by Dec 15.

We have received suggestions on how to better manage umrah pilgrims. DATUK MAS ERMIEYATI SAMSUDIN Deputy tourism and culture minister