Canceled haj pilgrims will be reimbursed<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government, consoling the thousands of
\nfrustrated prospective pilgrims who have had to cancel their
\njourney to Mecca this year, promised yesterday to simplify
\nprocedures for reimbursement.<\/p>\n
Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher said in his radio
\nmessage to officials under his ministry that the government will
\nreimburse in full the fees already paid by prospective pilgrims
\non the waiting list.<\/p>\n
In addition, \"the prospective pilgrims on the waiting list
\nwill be given top priority for next year's haj season,\" Tarmizi
\npromised.<\/p>\n
Bank officials have been ordered not to deduct any
\ncancellation fees from the Rp 7 million that each pilgrim has
\npaid.<\/p>\n
Tarmizi also said that those who choose to leave their money
\nin the banks will be given top priority and not have to pay the
\ndifference in next year's haj fees.<\/p>\n
The haj fees are usually increased every year.<\/p>\n
Tarmizi said that based on an agreement between the central
\nbank, Bank Indonesia, and the state-owned banks authorized to
\nmanage the fees, every prospective pilgrim wishing to have their
\nmoney back would have to request it.<\/p>\n
The letter will have to be certified by local officials in
\ncharge of coordinating haj affairs and accompanied by bank
\nreceipts stating that a full payment has been made.<\/p>\n
Legislator A.M. Saefuddin of the Moslem-based United
\nDevelopment Party welcomed the government's promise but urged it
\nto issue clear directives.<\/p>\n
He reminded the government that their offer was not exactly a
\n\"gift\" for Moslems who have had to suffer enough disappointment.<\/p>\n
\"There's no need for the government to say that the pilgrims
\nwho decide to deposit their money in the bank will not have to
\npay more next year,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that the interest earned by the banks, which
\nrightfully belongs to the pilgrims, should be plenty to cover the
\nincrease in next year's fees.<\/p>\n
\"The government should make it clear that it's not giving
\nanything to the pilgrims,\" he said. \"The government should just
\ngive the people an honest explanation.\"<\/p>\n
In addition, the government should not link the decision to
\ngive pilgrims top priority with their decision to take their
\nmoney back, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Everybody who's on the waiting list should be given top
\npriority to go next year,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A total of 231,000 Moslems registered to go to Mecca, Saudi
\nArabia, this year. Out of the surprisingly high number, some
\n36,000 people have been put on the waiting list as Indonesia has
\nonly been allowed to send 195,000 people. (swe)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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