Singer Amir UK’s Among 82 Victims Of Haj Sponsorship Fraud

SEPANG, June 4 (Bernama) -- A total of 82 prospective Haj pilgrims were duped by an offer to perform the pilgrimage for free through a "sponsorship" scheme.

Despite repeated assurances that they would fly to Makkah, they were eventually left stranded at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 yesterday.

Among those affected were legendary Malaysian singer Amir UK's (real name Muhammad Azmir Muhammad Yusof) 56, and his wife, Sarimah Ahmad, 51.

Recounting the incident, Amir said it all began when his wife was informed by a colleague on April 9 about an opportunity to perform Haj, fully sponsored by an individual believed to be a "philanthropist".

Following that, he said their personal details and passport copies were submitted before he and his wife were added to a WhatsApp group named “Tetamu Allah Haji Akbar 2025”.

"We were only asked to submit our names and passport numbers. No payment was required."

"All communication took place solely via the WhatsApp platform, managed by certain individuals – not official travel agents, but appointed pilgrims who were managing the arrangements," he told a press conference here today.

Amir said the pilgrims on the WhatsApp group were also asked to attend a Haj course at Grand Barakah, Ampang, on May 24 and to make preparations such as getting vaccinations and submitting their passports.

He said their total preparation costs were estimated at over RM4,000, but the pilgrims were promised reimbursement from the sponsor, along with pocket money.

He said a Haj offer letter was later shared on WhatsApp on May 27, purportedly from a well-known travel agency, and they were promised a ‘mujamalah’ visa.

A mujamalah visa is issued by the Saudi Arabian government and is granted only to specific individuals or groups.

Amir said that according to information received on WhatsApp, he and his wife were scheduled to depart on June 1 on a 5.35 pm flight to Jeddah.

"We arrived at KLIA by 11 am. However, no travel agency representative was present, nor were any other pilgrims in sight. We were then informed there would be no group movement to KLIA that day."

"The next day, a message stated that the flight would take place around 3 am to 5 am on June 3 via a "chartered flight" from the Bunga Raya Complex," he said.

Amir said the message gave them hope and was convincing, but their wait proved to be in vain as the individual believed to be holding their flight tickets, visas, and passports had not appeared to date.

"It was truly heartbreaking because we never expected this to happen, as we were given strong assurances that we would fly on the chartered flight," he said.

Following the incident, Amir said he and his wife lodged a police report at the KLIA Police Station in order to retrieve their passports, which were held by another individual.

"Previously, the pilgrims had handed over their passports to the individual managing the Haj arrangements, but after the police report was lodged, we were asked to collect them from Setia Alam."

"However, my wife and I have yet to collect the passports as we want to resolve some other matters first, following our failure to travel to the Holy Land," he said.

-- BERNAMA