Regulations for tour operators need to be reviewed to curb cheating as existing rules are inadequate, said Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari.

He said there had been many cases where tour operators - including licensed tour operators - have received payment from their customers but then fail to hold up their end of the bargain.

"In most cases, would-be holidaymakers or those seeking to perform the umrah pilgrimage would fall victim to errant travel operators who abscond after collecting a deposit or often the full amount for tour packages," he said.

He cited the case of one couple's booking in Oct 2013 as an example.

The tour to Cambodia was cancelled in April but the couple reportedly received no refund from the tour company to date.

In this case, Zairil said the company is licensed under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and issued receipts in its own name, but advertised under as a different company on its official website and as another company on a coupon website where the couple made the booking.

Under the Tourism Industry Act 1992, he said, the ministry can only fine or revoke the license of registered travel operators, but pointed out that the two companies do not even exists on its registry.

If action is taken against the licenced company, would it have any effect on the sister companies, he asked.

"This is relevant because there have been numerous cases of irresponsible operators who continue to operate using different company names. Is this a way of circumventing the system?

"It is clear that existing regulations are inadequate both in deterring and resolving cases of cheating by errant travel operators.

"Therefore, there is an urgent need to review the existing framework governing travel operators in order to find a way to curb this public menace," said the DAP assistant publicity chief.                        

Malaysiakini is withholding the name of the tour companies and other details pending comment from the companies.