Govt considers permanent lodgings in Saudi Arabia<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government will explore the possibility of
\nproviding Indonesian haj pilgrims with permanent lodgings in
\nMecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia, Minister of Religious Affairs
\nQuraish Shihab said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters after meeting with President Soeharto at
\nhis private residence on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta, Quraish
\nsaid the plan was intended to provide pilgrims with less
\nexpensive, more comfortable accommodation.<\/p>\n
\"Of course, we must take into account all Saudi Arabia's
\nprevailing laws,\" the minister said.<\/p>\n
Quraish did not say whether Indonesia intended to buy houses
\nin Saudi Arabia, or lease them on long-term contracts.<\/p>\n
Brunei Darussalam already has permanent lodgings for its haj
\npilgrims in Saudi Arabia. However, compared to Indonesia, which
\nsends an average of 200,000 pilgrims each year, the number of
\nBruneian pilgrims was relatively small, he said.<\/p>\n
The religious affairs ministry currently leases housing for
\npilgrims in Mecca and Medina on a short-term basis. The minister
\nsaid that houses near Masjidil Haram were more expensive than
\naccommodation far from the mosque.<\/p>\n
Islam states that every able-bodied person should perform the
\nhaj once in their lifetime. Pilgrims stay in the Holy Land for 40
\ndays, of which 10 days are spent in Mecca and Medina before and
\nafter the rituals.<\/p>\n
When asked about luxury haj operators who left their customers
\nstranded in Saudi Arabia this year, the minister said that he
\nwould not hesitate to revoke their permits if they were proved to
\nhave been negligent.<\/p>\n
\"We are still studying the case because this is the first
\nincident of its type that we have faced,\" Quraish said.<\/p>\n
Some operators, including the well-known Tiga Utama,
\nreportedly failed to provide customers with return tickets,
\ndespite receiving the bookings well in advance of when the
\npilgrims were due to travel.<\/p>\n
The operators run luxury tours for pilgrims which include
\nstar-rated hotels and a shorter time spent in the Holy Land.<\/p>\n
\"The operators are responsible for returning their clients to
\nIndonesia. The Ministry of Religious Affairs takes no
\nresponsibility for the case,\" Quraish said.<\/p>\n
The price of a regular haj this year was Rp 8.8 million
\n(US$1,100).<\/p>\n
The fee is expected to almost double next year because of the
\nweakness of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar, but Quraish said
\nthe government would not subsidize the pilgrimage since only
\nthose with the financial means are obliged to perform the rite,
\naccording to Islamic teachings.<\/p>\n
The minister also spoke of the possibility of introducing a
\nfatwa (religious decree) allowing only physically fit people to
\nundertake the arduous haj.<\/p>\n
The move has been under consideration since earlier this month
\nbecause of the usually high number of pilgrims who died in the
\nHoly Land, mainly as a result of cardiovascular problems and old
\nage.<\/p>\n
This year 201,961 Indonesians went on the haj, of whom 673
\ndied. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-considers-permanent-lodgings-in-saudi-arabia-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}