The Kla Tham Party is preparing to submit the Hajj Affairs Bill to establish an office to oversee Thai Muslim pilgrims, addressing issues of fraud and abandonment, and protecting the rights of those traveling for the Hajj pilgrimage in Thailand.
At 09:30 on 22 May 2026, Najmuddin Uma, Deputy Leader of the Kla Tham Party, and Atthakorn Sirilattayakorn, MP for Chachoengsao and party spokesperson, along with southern MPs such as Yunaydi Waba, MP for Pattani; Lutfi Hayeet, MP for Narathiwat; Sampan Mayuso, MP for Narathiwat; and Amin Mayuso, MP for Narathiwat, held a press conference. They reported that the party's complaint center had received grievances from victims defrauded by travel operators organizing Hajj pilgrimages. The victims, both honest workers who had saved money throughout their lives hoping to undertake the pilgrimage, were severely harmed by being deceived.
Atthakorn said that since the Kla Tham Party was established, it initially had only three MPs from the South. After the 2026 election, the party gained the trust of southern voters, increasing its MPs from 3 to 12. Following continuous field visits, one major issue raised by southern Muslim communities was the need to better oversee those traveling for the Hajj pilgrimage, including problems of abandonment and unfair treatment by some operators.
Atthakorn added that the Kla Tham Party is preparing to propose a Hajj Affairs Act to establish an office dedicated to supporting Muslim pilgrims, ensuring their rights, facilitating their journey, and protecting citizens in cases of abandonment or fraud. The draft law has already been signed by party MPs and is set to be submitted to Parliament.
“As the spokesperson for the Kla Tham Party, I call on the government to recognize that this law is crucial for Muslim communities and involves financial matters. We urge the government to expedite its consideration and return it to the House of Representatives so members can review it promptly,” he said.
Najmuddin Uma expressed gratitude to Captain Thammanat Prompao, Kla Tham Party leader, who was the first to sign the bill, as well as other party MPs who completed the necessary signatures. He noted the party will present the bill to the House of Representatives. The party has received many complaints, especially recently from people in Songkhla province who paid travel companies to undertake the Hajj but never traveled, causing hardship for their families. This underscores the urgent need to push the bill through Parliament.
Najmuddin explained that the bill’s key points include establishing a permanent National Hajj Affairs Office dedicated solely to managing Hajj matters. Previously, the responsibility was fragmented across various agencies, causing the Hajj to be viewed mainly as a security issue. The bill also proposes a National Hajj Affairs Committee chaired by the Prime Minister, with the Chularatchamontri as vice-chair, plus about 21 representatives from related agencies, to set policies and oversee Hajj affairs systematically.
Another important provision requires operators organizing Hajj travel to be legal entities holding proper licenses. Failure to deliver pilgrims as per contract will result in civil and criminal penalties to prevent exploitation. The bill also proposes establishing a Hajj Fund to manage resources and assist affected individuals. Currently, the government allocates about 300 million baht annually but has not utilized it effectively.
“This bill aims to provide assurance and confidence to Muslim pilgrims that they will be treated fairly, safely, and will no longer be abandoned or defrauded on their journey to perform the Hajj.”