Strict deadline on haj registration<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government will strictly enforce the
\nregistration deadline for the next haj pilgrimage to Saudi
\nArabia, so every participant can be subjected to adequate health
\nchecks.<\/p>\n
Next year's deadline will be three months prior to date of
\ndeparture.<\/p>\n
Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher said on Thursday
\nthat the government hopes to cut down the number of fatalities
\namong Indonesian pilgrims and, therefore, the registration
\ndeadline had to be strictly enforced.<\/p>\n
"There will be no more last minute registrations as there were
\nin the past," he told reporters after meeting with President
\nSoeharto at the Bina Graha Presidential Office.<\/p>\n
With three months of leeway, doctors can still prescribe
\nwould-be pilgrims medicine or care to ensure that they are fit to
\nundergo the grueling trip, he said.<\/p>\n
He stressed that it was necessary for pilgrims to be in prime
\nphysical condition to safely perform the haj.<\/p>\n
A record 638 Indonesians died in this year's haj pilgrimage,
\nrepresenting about 0.4 percent of the total 165,000 pilgrims.
\nThis is higher than 0.3 percent casualty rate in 1993.<\/p>\n
Most of the victims died of old age, heart conditions and
\nstroke. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/strict-deadline-on-haj-registration-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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