The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) has cancelled the licence of Al Aisy Travel & Tour Sdn Bhd with effect from March 31, 2026 after 36 Malaysian umrah pilgrims were left stranded in Madinah due to alleged breaches in travel arrangements.
MOTAC said the decision was made under the Tourism Industry Act 1992 after the company failed to pre-book accommodation and transport as outlined in its pilgrimage package, did not follow the scheduled travel itinerary and did not provide return flight tickets to Malaysia for the affected pilgrims.
The ministry said the failures resulted in significant disruption to the pilgrims’ journey, causing them to be stranded in Saudi Arabia and exposing them to financial stress and safety risks. It added that the situation raised concerns over the credibility and integrity of the company and undermined public confidence in the broader tourism industry.
According to MOTAC, the company’s actions were in breach of licence conditions and were deemed to have conducted its business in a manner that was detrimental to public interest and the tourism sector.
The ministry stressed that it will not compromise on any violations by licensed tourism operators, particularly those involving the welfare of Malaysian citizens performing religious travel.
MOTAC said the move is intended to safeguard consumer protection and uphold standards within the tourism industry in line with national policy priorities.
