Govt studying guidelines for badal haj services

KUALA LUMPUR: The government, through the Waqf, Zakat and Haj Department (Jawhar), is conducting a study to develop guidelines for badal haj (haj by proxy) services.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Marhamah Rosli said the study included examining the feasibility of services offered by companies and individuals, in line with a decision by the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs Malaysia (MKI).

"Based on the findings of this study, guidelines will be developed and submitted to the MKI before being made available as a reference for the public," she said in reply to Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PN-Kuala Krai) in the Dewan Rakyat.

Latiff had asked about the government's mechanisms for conducting preliminary checks on advertisers' identities, company registration status, licences, payment recipient accounts and the validity of claims made by badal haj service providers before their advertisements were allowed to circulate among the public.

Marhamah said Jawhar and Lembaga Tabung Haji would also step up public information and awareness efforts through religious talks at mosques and surau, social media campaigns and nationwide outreach programmes.

She added that inter-ministerial coordination involving the Prime Minister's Department, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry and the police had already been established to jointly combat badal haj scams.

She urged the public to check service providers' backgrounds, verify the legitimacy of their offers and confirm payment recipient details before making any transactions.

"Offering badal haj services at exceptionally low prices raises questions about the legitimacy and feasibility of such services, thereby increasing the risk of members of the public falling victim to scams."