Tabung Haji Operations director of Haj Pilgrims Management (Private), Mat Admara Alang Azizdin, said the commercial haj packages were handled by 24 private companies.
"Although the package cost between RM16,000 to RM100,000 per person, it is highly demanded by Malaysians, especially since three years ago following the country's economic recovery," he told reporters covering the current Haj season.
He said some of the pilgrims opted to perform the pilgrimage through the commercial packages because they offered more comfortable accommodation at four-star or five-star hotels near the Grand Mosque and also at Jamrah.
Mat Admara, who is also Tabung Haji General Manager (Haj Agency), said the companies had to meet certain conditions before they could be issued with the licence to offer haj packages to potential pilgrims.
"Their services will be monitored everyday and pilgrims are advised to report immediately to Tabung Haji if they have any complaints," he added.
He said Tabung Haji would revoke the licence issued to companies found to have violated regulations or breached their agreement with the pilgrims.
However, he said, in terms of medical service, all Tabung Haji pilgrims, whether they went through Tabung Haji or the commercial package, enjoyed the same facilities.
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