In welcoming the ministry’s decision, Najib Razak tweeted:

“I disagree with the Imams system being used for Umrah visas. The announcement that it was cancelled is the right one.”

Earlier today, tourism and culture ministry secretary-general Rashidi Hasbullah told Astro Awani that the decision to cancel the Integrated Mannish Monitoring System (Imams) was made following brickbats from the public and feedback from industry players.

The announcement came a day after it was launched.

According to reports, Tourism and Culture Deputy Minister Mas Ermieyati Samsudin announced the introduction of the system yesterday. It was to better manage the umrah pilgrims, strengthen its regulatory management system as well as snuff out errant operators.

The Umrah Regulatory Management Council, in an announcement, made it mandatory for all the 65 travel agencies accorded with the Muasassah (umrah special licence) to adopt and comply with the system.

Some critics had said Imams was nothing more than a “middle-man” to collect fees, duplicating the function of the immigration department.