Govt will retain control over haj<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government intends to retain control over
\ndeparture arrangements for Indonesian haj pilgrims to Mecca next
\nyear, despite the chaos that marked this year's operation.<\/p>\n
Before departing for Mecca on Sunday night, Minister of
\nReligious Affairs Tarmizi Taher promised that next year would be
\nbetter and that changes would be made.<\/p>\n
Tarmizi said that the operation next year will involve more
\nprivate agencies, particularly Moslem organizations, and a
\nsavings plan for would-be pilgrims, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
Moslem organizations will be involved in arranging the
\ncatering at the Pondok Gede haj dormitory and in managing the
\nhospital within the complex, he said.<\/p>\n
The government has guarded its monopoly in running the haj
\noperation, which is a lucrative money spinner and one that
\nprivate companies have been eying.<\/p>\n
With the number of Indonesian pilgrims rising each year, some
\nof the facilities and resources are reaching their limits.
\nPilgrims spend one night at the Pondok Gede dormitory before
\ndeparting for Mecca and another on their return home.<\/p>\n
The first week of this year's operation was engulfed in mayhem
\nwhen thousands of would be pilgrims booked on the first flights
\nout did not receive their Saudi Arabia visa on time.<\/p>\n
Tarmizi is the Amirul Haj, the chief of the Indonesian haj
\ndelegation, which this year has reached a record of 196,000
\npeople, up from 165,000 in 1994. Some 36,000 people who
\nregistered for the pilgrimage had to be bumped because Indonesia
\nhas been allocated a quota of 196,000 by Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
Traditionally, the Amirul Haj boards the last plane out of
\nIndonesia. Tarmizi, however, left on Sunday to meet with Saudi
\nauthorities, saying that he wanted to discuss the possibilities
\nof a higher quota for Indonesian pilgrims next year in line with
\nits increasing population.<\/p>\n
\"We hope the Indonesian haj quota can be increased to
\n200,000,\" he said, adding that those left stranded on the waiting
\nlist this year would be given priority.<\/p>\n
He said this effectively leaves about 165,000 spaces available
\nfor next year's pilgrimage, and the government would close the
\nregistration as soon as it reached that number.<\/p>\n
The government had originally planned 452 flights to fly the
\npilgrims to Mecca between April 3 and May 2. The operation has
\nnow been extended because some 4,655 pilgrims who did not have
\ntheir visas ready had to delay their departures. The government
\nhas agreed to provide additional flights to fly them all out.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Antara reported that a total of 50 Indonesian
\npilgrims have died in Saudi Arabia, mostly of heart attack and
\nstroke. Last year, more than 600 Indonesians died during the
\npilgrimage. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-will-retain-control-over-haj-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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