'AVOID ONLINE DIY UMRAH PACKAGES'

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians have been told not to arrange for an umrah online but instead go through registered travel agencies.

Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry secretary-general Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah said prospective pilgrims needed to follow proper procedures.

He was responding to NST’s frontpage story recently on the availability of online DIY umrah, or minor haj, packages soon. Online umrah packages available from March will be a complete airport-to-airport package, which includes visa, transport, hotels, and umrah and “ziarah” tours.