MATTA and firm offer Islamic insurance scheme for pilgrims

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) and a major insurance company here have come up with a scheme to support a Government requirement that all haj and umrahpilgrims must have takaful (Islamic insurance) coverage. MATTA president Datuk Khalid Harun said the association and Hong Leong Tokio Marine Takaful Bhd (HLTM Takaful) would be collaborating on the newly-launched MATTA Haj and Umrah Personal Accident Takaful Scheme.

“The scheme conforms with Section 6(1A) of the Tourism Industry Act, which makes it compulsory for haj and umrah pilgrims to have validtakaful coverage,” he said after the signing of a MoU between MATTA and HLTM Takaful at Putra World Trade Centre yesterday. Three plans basic, premium and premium plus are offered under the scheme, which provides for emergency medical evacuation, repatriation of remains, medical expenses coverage, funeral allowance and badal Haji (performing haj on behalf of a deceased person or a permanently disabled person), Khalid said.

The plans, costing RM40 to RM140, cover 11 types of incidents, including loss of documentation, emergency medical evacuation, accidental death and funeral expenses. The scheme also offers reimbursement of deposit or full payment of air tickets or tour packages in the event the travel agent goes bankrupt, said Khalid, claiming this was the first of its type in the country.

He said umrah pilgrims were expected to increase to 100,000 this year, from 90,000 last year. “This collaborative arrangement will ensure Malaysian Muslims on hajand umrah pilgrimage will have adequate insurance coverage or takafulprotection.” HLTM Takaful general manager Abdul Khalid Salleh said the company had targeted RM2mil in premium contribution by the end of the year.

-thestar online.