{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1215372,
        "msgid": "government-to-tighten-rules-for-haj-organizers-1447893297",
        "date": "1995-04-29 00:00:00",
        "title": "Government to tighten rules for haj organizers",
        "author": null,
        "source": "",
        "tags": null,
        "topic": null,
        "summary": "Government to tighten rules for haj organizers JAKARTA (JP): The government will tighten the rules for organizers of the haj pilgrimage, following heavy criticism of this year's chaotic travel arrangements. Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher said yesterday, that in the future, haj pilgrimage arrangements will have to be handled by organizations. \"Then their performances will be evaluated every year. If they are erratic, their permits will be revoked,\" Tarmizi said.",
        "content": "<p>Government to tighten rules for haj organizers<\/p>\n<p>JAKARTA (JP): The government will tighten the rules for<br>\norganizers of the haj pilgrimage, following heavy criticism of<br>\nthis year's chaotic travel arrangements.<\/p>\n<p>Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher said yesterday,<br>\nthat in the future, haj pilgrimage arrangements will have to be<br>\nhandled by organizations.<\/p>\n<p>\"Then their performances will be evaluated every year. If they<br>\nare erratic, their permits will be revoked,\" Tarmizi said.<\/p>\n<p>Currently, there are no strict regulations concerning the<br>\norganization of haj pilgrims. In many instances, unauthorized<br>\nindividuals and organizations tend to prospective pilgrims'<br>\nadministrative procedures, such as the visas, and arranging their<br>\ndepartures.<\/p>\n<p>There have been persistent reports this season of haj<br>\norganizers embezzling their customers' fees or failing to arrange<br>\nthe departures on time, causing a substantial number of delays.<\/p>\n<p>This season, Indonesia is sending more than 195,000 pilgrims<br>\nto Mecca, Saudi Arabia. More than 230,000 Moslems registered for<br>\nthe journey but the Saudi government set the quota at 195,000<br>\npilgrims.<\/p>\n<p>Hundreds of prospective pilgrims in Jakarta had to suspend<br>\ntheir departure because they had not received their passports or<br>\nvisas on the day they were due to leave.<\/p>\n<p>Various officials and observers have linked the record-high<br>\nnumber of would-be pilgrims, and unprofessional organizers, to<br>\nthe chaos.<\/p>\n<p>Tarmizi discussed the new plan with the leaders of the little<br>\nknown Moslem Association, including Cholid Fadlullah, Hasan<br>\nMuarif, Anwar Shaleh, Syatori Moengin, Mahyudin Nawawi and Ido<br>\nNurzaini.<\/p>\n<p>He said that official permits will be issued to organizations<br>\nonly and no individuals will be allowed to handle the lucrative<br>\nbusiness.<\/p>\n<p>\"There will be no more possibility for individuals to handle<br>\nthe organization of the pilgrimage,\" Tarmizi said. Tarmizi is<br>\nnamed leader, or Amirul-haj, of this season's haj pilgrimage.<\/p>\n<p>Tarmizi stressed that the government had no intention of<br>\nmonopolizing the haj organization but rather, it only meant to<br>\ndiscipline it.<\/p>\n<p>The government also plans to computerize the pilgrimage<br>\narrangement process, in order to facilitate registration. Under<br>\nthe new plan, the ministry will have direct access to its offices<br>\nin the provinces.<\/p>\n<p>Indonesia's Consulate General in Jeddah said yesterday that<br>\nthe number of Indonesian pilgrims who have died in Saudi Arabia<br>\nhas reached 33, as of yesterday. (29)<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-to-tighten-rules-for-haj-organizers-1447893297",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}