60 couples claim cheated by wedding planner with cheap package

A wedding planner company was alleged to have cheated 60 couples by offering an inexpensive wedding package at numerous wedding expos since last year.

Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) chief activist, Datuk Nadzim Johan said the association had so far received 10 complaints from the victims whose wedding plans had disappeared into thin air, along with the company they paid to organise it.

He said he was informed by one of the victims that there were about 60 couples who had been cheated by the company and was convinced that more couples would lodge their complaints later.

"The package offered by the company includes two sets of wedding dresses, a dais, photographer service, an arch, make-up and photo booth...all for as low as RM1,000 to RM3,000," he told a press conference here Friday.

Nadzim said the company's modus operandi was to participate in big wedding expos to find their victims, but would always use different company names to avoid being detected.

"At the expos, the victims would be required to pay a deposit of RM200 and the balance to be paid within a month," Nadzim said.

One of its victims, Siti Zulekha Ibrahim, 31, who was also present, claimed she had tried several times to contact the company but to no avail.

"We have taken the matter to the Consumer Claims Tribunal, but was told that no action could be taken as the company, which has its address in Temerloh, Pahang, as well as in Bangi, Selangor, had moved and became uncontactable," Siti Zulekha said.

"Several other victims including myself have lodged police reports so that the company will not be able to continue cheating the public," she said.