All Indonesian pilgrims assured of entry: Tarmizi<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): All Indonesians who are planning to go on the
\nhaj pilgrimage to Mecca will be accommodated by the Saudi
\ngovernment although their number exceeded the quota allocated for
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher managed to squeeze
\nin 200 more pilgrims at the last minute to bring the total of
\nIndonesian pilgrims to 164,200, or 4,200 over their quota.<\/p>\n
But the minister had to make another trip to Jeddah, his
\nsecond of the past month, to clear up last-minute hitches.<\/p>\n
\"The government of Saudi Arabia has given permission to
\neveryone to join the haj pilgrimage,\" Tarmizi told the press on
\nThursday shortly after his return from Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
The last planes carrying pilgrims will depart today. Minister
\nof Information Harmoko, who has been designated as the Amirul
\nHaj, or the chief of the Indonesian delegation, will be on board
\none of them.<\/p>\n
There had been fears earlier that some Indonesian pilgrims
\nwould be denied entry to Saudi Arabia because the total number of
\npilgrims, which reached a record high this year, exceeded the
\nquota. Last year's number of 124,000 also set a new standard.<\/p>\n
These concerns nearly turned into a conflict when Tarmizi
\nsuggested that pilgrims who were not traveling on the government-
\norganized program might be detained and deported by the Saudi
\nauthorities.<\/p>\n
This brought a denial from the Saudi embassy in Jakarta which
\nin turn prompted legislators to criticize Tarmizi for his stand
\nand to question the government's attempt to monopolize the
\norganization of the haj pilgrimage at this end.<\/p>\n
Tarmizi on Thursday insisted that something had to be done
\nabout the growing number of people who are making their own
\ntravel arrangements because many of them are often left stranded
\nwhen they reach Mecca and are forced to use facilities, such as
\ntransportation and accommodation, originally intended for the
\nofficial pilgrims.<\/p>\n
In the past they could be tolerated because their number was
\nsmall, but their larger number could pose problems.<\/p>\n
Tarmizi had disclosed that the government plans to tighten
\nregulations on the haj pilgrimage next year. (yns)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/all-indonesian-pilgrims-assured-of-entry-tarmizi-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}