KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 — The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has activated a one-stop centre for stranded haj pilgrims at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) police headquarters, starting today, to help pilgrims in need.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said 40 members from the special team began their duties from 8am today, for 11 days, and will end at 12am on June 21.
“This team will provide facilities to stranded pilgrims, whether stranded at KLIA before departing for Saudi Arabia, or stranded pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and unable to perform the haj.
“These officers will receive reports from the pilgrims involved, identify legal offences that have occurred, and channel all reports to the agencies involved, so the investigation can be carried out,” he said at a press conference at the CCID office here today.
Ramli said PDRM received cooperation from Lembaga Tabung Haji and the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.
However, Ramli said, police have yet to receive reports about pilgrims stranded at KLIA.
In another development, he said commercial crime rose by 3 per cent, or 14,051 cases, in the first six months of this year, from the 13,695 cases reported in the same period last year.
He said the value of losses rose by 32 per cent to RM959,041,692, compared with last year’s loss of RM728,846,238.
“An average of 92 commercial crime cases are recorded daily. However, this increase in the number of cases can be dealt with appropriately by this department, through a better prosecution rate than in 2023.
“This can be seen through the 6,531 investigation papers that have been charged in courts up to the 22nd week of this year, as this number is higher than the 5,643 investigation papers reported in the same period in 2023,” he said.
He said the upward trend in cases, and the value of losses, is a sign that more intensive efforts are needed to combat commercial crime.
— Bernama
