SHAH ALAM – The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has decreed that stern action be taken against any individual or travel company offering fraudulent hajj travel packages affecting Muslims in the country.
His Royal Highness, in a post on the Selangor Royal Office’s Facebook page, said it was especially disheartening that those exploiting the situation were Muslims themselves, who were willing to deceive their fellow believers for personal gain.
Sultan Sharafuddin urged Muslims to respect the significance of the haj by making sure that all preparations are done through licensed and approved agents and companies that are authorised by the relevant authorities to handle hajj and umrah matters.
In the post, Sultan Sharafuddin and the Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor, Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, extended Hari Raya Aidiladha greetings to Muslims across Malaysia.
Their Royal Highnesses expressed their wishes for Malaysian pilgrims to have a blessed hajj and return home safely.
In the statement, the Sultan and the Tengku Permaisuri also expressed their hope that this Aidiladha would encourage all Muslims to be thankful for Allah’s blessings, perform sacrificial rites to assist the less fortunate, and reflect on the challenges faced by those in need.
Earlier, two individuals, believed to hold the title “Datuk,” were arrested in connection with an investigation into a fraudulent scheme offering free hajj packages by a company.
Datuk Seri Muhammed Hasbullah Ali, the Acting Director of Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department, said that the man and woman, aged 36 and 39, were taken into custody on Tuesday and later released on police bail after their remand period ended.
He noted that the case is being investigated under Section 420 and Section 511 of the Penal Code.
The fraudulent activity came to light when the “Op Haji Terkandas” task force discovered a group of pilgrims at Kuala Lumpur Airport (KLIA) waiting for an individual with the title “Datuk” last Monday. – June 7, 2025