Govt to restrict individual haj quota<\/p>\n
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government is considering drafting a policy that will limit
\nan individual's haj trip to once every five years, due to the
\ncountry's limited quota that has not met demands.<\/p>\n
Minister of Religious Affairs Said Agiel Munawar said on
\nThursday that the policy would enable more people to perform the
\npilgrimage, one of the five Islamic obligations written in the
\nHadith, a collection of Mohammad's deeds and words.<\/p>\n
It has become common practice for rich Muslims to make the haj
\nto Saudi Arabia frequently, sometimes annually, under the
\ngovernment-sanctioned program. The haj cost US$2,100 this year.<\/p>\n
The minister said the government would follow in the footsteps
\nof Saudi Arabian government: \"The Saudi Arabian government has
\napplied this rule to their citizens and others living in that
\ncountry. We think it might be a good idea for us to follow suit.\"<\/p>\n
As the world's most populous Muslim country, Indonesia sends
\nmore than 200,000 Muslims every year on the haj, as Saudi Arabia
\nimposes a quota restriction of one haj pilgrim per 1,000 people.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has a population of over 220 million.<\/p>\n
The ministry has imposed its own quota restriction for each
\nprovince due to the limited seats, which means that most
\napplicants do not make the short-list.<\/p>\n
The haj policy plan comes on the heels of a public outcry
\ndemanding Said's resignation for a brouhaha that ensued from his
\nannouncement that the national quota had been increased by 30,000
\nthis year -- before Saudi Arabia had responded to Indonesia's
\nrequest. Said announced Riyadh's rejection of the request when
\nthose on the waiting list had already paid their haj fees.<\/p>\n
Although the quota for next year remains unchanged, the Saudi
\nArabian government had extended a special invitation to relatives
\nof the Feb. 1 Mina stampede victims, Said said.<\/p>\n
\"The Saudi Arabian government will allow three family members
\nof each victim to make the pilgrimage for free,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The religious affairs ministry's latest data shows that 65
\nIndonesians were killed in the tragedy, so 195 seats will be
\nadded to next year's haj quota.<\/p>\n
Said said the ministry would contact the victims' families to
\narrange their trip, while the government would provide each
\nfamily with U$2,750 in compensation for their loss.<\/p>\n
The Saudi Arabian government is planning to expand the Mina
\nsite and build a four-story bridge to accommodate the pilgrims to
\nprevent another stampede.<\/p>\n
In 1990, more than 562 Indonesians were among the 1,500
\npilgrims trampled to death in Mina, while 274 pilgrims, including
\nsix Indonesians, died in a similar incident in Mina in 1994.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-to-restrict-individual-haj-quota-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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