Legislators blast haj operation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): While the government was struggling to smoothen
\nout the operation of flying 195,000 haj pilgrims to Mecca,
\nlegislators yesterday visited trouble spots and drew attention to
\nhow past mistakes are being repeated.<\/p>\n
Reports said that, as of yesterday, of all the flights to
\nSaudi Arabia, a total of 1,765 seats have been left vacant.<\/p>\n
In addition, officials at the airports of the five haj
\nembarkation points -- Ujungpandang, Medan, Surabaya, Balikpapan
\nand Jakarta -- have canceled six flights because less than 70
\npercent of the seats were filled.<\/p>\n
Earlier this week officials assured the prospective pilgrims
\nthat measures have been taken to ensure a smoother operation to
\nsend them to and bring them home from the Holy Land.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, members of the Moslem-based United Development
\nParty (PPP) faction of the House of Representatives visited the
\nhaj dormitory in Pondok Gede, Jakarta. They spoke with
\nprospective pilgrims who have been made to wait for days for
\ntheir departure.<\/p>\n
Hamzah Haz called on the Ministry of Religious Affairs to make
\nimprovements so that it won't repeat mistakes such as delaying or
\ncanceling flights because of people lacking proper documents.<\/p>\n
Also yesterday, Director of Islamic and Haj Affairs Ahmad
\nGozali met with Saudi Ambassador Abdullah Abdul Rahman Alim,
\nreportedly to seek solutions to the glitches in the operation
\nwhich some people have blamed on the lack of visas.<\/p>\n
The ambassador, however, said the meeting was actually a
\ncourtesy call and that no discussion on visas had taken place.<\/p>\n
He told The Jakarta Post yesterday that the embassy has issued
\nan adequate number of visas for the first flights to proceed
\nsmoothly.<\/p>\n
\"We have sent 134,000 visas to the ministry so far. We are
\ntrying to finish processing the remaining visas as quickly as
\npossible.<\/p>\n
\"Insya Allah (God willing), all visas will be finished next
\nweek.\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hamzah Haz, who was accompanied by some 15 other House
\nmembers, called on the government and the Saudi Arabian embassy
\nto sit together and find solutions to the problems.<\/p>\n
All of the hiccups in the massive operation were linked to
\nvisas, he pointed out. \"So the two governments should find
\nsolutions together,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The legislator, however, said the embassy was not to blame.<\/p>\n
\"There's a technicality which causes the problems,\" he said,
\nbut failed to elaborate.<\/p>\n
Bill<\/p>\n
Hamzah also said that his faction is currently preparing a
\nbill on haj operations in order to guarantee better-organized
\nmanagement in the future.<\/p>\n
Expected to be completed later this year, the bill will
\nemphasize the need for the private sector's involvement in the
\nmanagement of haj operations.<\/p>\n
\"The private sector will be given a greater role in the coming
\nhaj operation,\" Hamzah told the Post.<\/p>\n
Private tour agencies currently operate haj trips which cost
\nnearly three times the trips managed by the government; the
\nspecial trips are known here as ONH Plus.<\/p>\n
\"The haj operation needs a more professional management which
\nrequires more handling by more than just the government,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
If approved, the draft bill would revoke the 1969 Presidential
\ndecree which stipulates that the government is the only
\n\"organization\" permitted to manage haj operations.<\/p>\n
In the future, the House of Representatives should also be a
\ngiven greater role in the operation, particularly in determining
\nthe haj cost and managing the fund.<\/p>\n
\"The government will first have to discuss the haj cost with
\nthe House,\" he said.<\/p>\n
This year, each pilgrim paid Rp 7,290,000 (approximately
\nUS$3094) for the haj trip. The government currently decides the
\nrate.<\/p>\n
The bill will also guarantee the pilgrim' rights to have the
\nbest services, he added. (01)<\/p>\n
Editorial -- Page 4<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/legislators-blast-haj-operation-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }