DAP has expressed concern that alleged cheating by errant travel operators has become a “public menace” in Malaysia and that existing regulations on the sector appear inadequate in deterring and resolving the cases. Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari (pic) said there is a need to review the framework governing travel operators in light of reported allegations of tour package scams on would-be holiday-makers and those seeking to perform the umrah pilgrimage. He said victims fall prey to operators who abscond after collecting a deposit or even the full amount for tour packages. “In fact, such scams have occurred even to tour packages purchased at the annual Malaysian Association for Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) fair,” said Zairil, who is DAP assistant national publicity secretary, in a statement issued in George Town today. He pointed to the case of Lohas Premium Travel and Lifestyle Sdn Bhd, which has sister companies Lohas Premium Holidays Sdn Bhd and Lohas Premium Vacation Sdn Bhd. Zairil noted a report by The Sun Daily on May 1 that a group of senior citizens could not recover the money paid to Lohas Premium Travel and Lifestyle after the company cancelled a tour package to Cambodia purchased by them. Following coverage of their plight, the daily reported on May 13 that they finally received their refund from Lohas Premium. Zairil however stressed that there are other pending cases. He said that a couple from Penang had purchased a Cambodian tour package in October last year, and to date has yet to receive a refund despite the trip being cancelled in April. In another news report on June 12, Lohas Premium Travel and Lifestyle had up to a week to submit a full report to Matta on complaints lodged against it. Matta chief executive officer Phua Tai Neng reportedly said he would leave it to the Tourism Ministry to take necessary action if the report failed to come in. “What’s more, ministry officials have confirmed that the travel company is not officially licensed by the ministry,” Zairil said. “In fact, out of the three companies owned by the same directors, only Lohas Premium Vacation Sdn Bhd holds a valid licence,” he added. Zairil questioned if the ministry could take action against Lohas Premium Travel and Lifestyle when the Tourism Industry Act 1992 only allows the ministry to fine or revoke the licences of registered travel operators. He also questioned how the operator was able to advertise tour packages as Lohas Premium Travel and Lifestyle Sdn Bhd on its official website, and Lohas Premium Holidays on Groupon, a website for discounted gift certificates, when it is licensed as Lohas Premium Vacation Sdn Bhd. Zairil said the issue is relevant because there have been numerous cases of operators who continue to use different company names. “Is this a way of circumventing the system?” he asked. – July 14, 2014.
Posted on: Mon, 14 Jul 2014 08:29:10 +0000