Speculation varies over additional haj pilgrims quota<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government has not disclosed how much of an
\nadditional quota for haj pilgrims it has secured from Saudi
\nArabia but officials are already sounding out warnings to
\napplicants to brace themselves for the likelihood of being
\ndropped this year.<\/p>\n
Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher returned from
\nRiyadh on Wednesday from a mission to negotiate an additional
\nquota of 40,000 pilgrims from the Saudi government, to
\naccommodate all 230,000 people who plan to join the pilgrimage
\nthis year.<\/p>\n
Tarmizi has declined to disclose the result of his mission
\nuntil he reports to President Soeharto, which is scheduled for
\nMonday. \"Just wait till then,\" he told reporters Thursday night.<\/p>\n
He added that he did his best to obtain a higher quota during
\nthe negotiations with Saudi government officials.<\/p>\n
Indonesia had been given a quota of 192,000 for this year's
\npilgrimage to Mecca. But 230,000 people have applied and most of
\nthem have paid the Rp 7 million fee in full, forcing the
\ngovernment to seek a higher quota.<\/p>\n
The number had earlier surged to 240,000 but approximately
\n10,000 people backed out after they were told that they had been
\nput on a waiting list, pending the outcome of the negotiations
\nfor a higher quota.<\/p>\n
In the absence of Tarmizi's explanation, other government
\nofficials have already appealed to would-be pilgrims for their
\nunderstanding should the government be forced to exclude some of
\nthem, if Indonesia did not get the additional quota it is
\nseeking.<\/p>\n
Suyono Yahya, secretary of the Coordinating Minister of
\nPeople's Welfare, said the issue was discussed at a limited
\ncabinet meeting on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The meeting discussed ways of selecting applicants who should
\nbe given priority to join the pilgrimage, Suyono said. \"We have
\nto select the pilgrims if our effort for a higher quota fails.\"<\/p>\n
The meeting agreed on at least nine criteria to be used in
\nselecting the would-be pilgrims, he said.<\/p>\n
Priority<\/p>\n
Priority will be given to first-time pilgrims, those over 50
\nyears old, those who applied early and those whose professions
\nare farmers or small traders, or those who come from villages.<\/p>\n
Priority will also given to married couples, those who have
\nlow health risks, those who paid early and those whose fares are
\nbeing paid out of prizes, such as elected role models of family
\nplanning participants.<\/p>\n
He said farmers and small traders are given priority because
\nthey have been saving for a long time, some almost all their
\nlives, to be able to pay for the trip.<\/p>\n
Suyono said the criteria will only be imposed if the worst
\ncomes to worst. \"Let's just wait for the news from the Minister
\nof Religious Affairs.\"<\/p>\n
Other officials have also warned that any selection imposed by
\nthe government is done in the best interests of all the pilgrims.<\/p>\n
They warned that the facilities in Saudi Arabia are limited
\nand that it would be pointless to insist on going only to get
\nstranded over there.<\/p>\n
The surge in the number of pilgrims caught the government
\ntotally by surprise. Indonesia sent 165,000 pilgrims last year
\nand the government had anticipated that this year the size would
\nincrease to 192,000 at the most. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/speculation-varies-over-additional-haj-pilgrims-quota-1447893297",
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