Agency accused of cheating 1,200 potential Umrah pilgrims

A travel agency is accused of cheating about 1,200 potential umrah (small hajj) pilgrims nationwide of RM4.8 million after their flights were delayed several times and their money was not refunded. It is understood that the agency with its head office in Wangsa Maju here failed to coordinate the flights scheduled in June despite obtaining full payments of RM3,999 per person since 2012. An advisor appointed by the agency Qurratul 'Ain Hasman, 25, said his group of 54 people only realised they were cheated after they were stranded in June due to visa problems and insufficient funds. "I was told by a representative from the agency that there was a shortage of RM1,500 for each person which was supposed to be topped up by a company as the actual price of the package was RM5,500," he told reporters during a gathering with 100 other victims in front of the agency's office here on Sunday. However, they were disappointed as the office was closed with a notice saying "premises closed temporarily" and efforts to contact the agency's representative also failed. Qurratul `Ain claimed that he was given to understand that about 1,200 people including from Sabah and Sarawak who had bought the package from the agency could not perform their pilgrimage. He further claimed that on June 7, the travel agency's chief executive officer had a meeting with them and offered two options of either departing in August or September, or obtaining a refund by cashing in a cheque 45 days after it was issued. "But the cheques bounced and the bank informed us that the agency's account had been closed. And those who opted for the August and September flights were left stranded again," he said. He said the group have lodged a report at the Wangsa Maju police station on Oct 5.