Ulemas asked to help improve haj management<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto has asked ulemas and members
\nof Moslem organizations to help the government improve the haj
\npilgrimage operation next year by providing suggestions and
\ncriticisms.<\/p>\n
Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher said after meeting
\nwith Soeharto yesterday that the government would be
\n\"approaching\" experienced ulemas for comments regarding the
\nservice provided to pilgrims during this year's haj season, which
\nended last week.<\/p>\n
\"President Soeharto asked that Moslem organizations give the
\ngovernment comments about the sending of pilgrims in 1996, both
\npositive and negative,\" he said.<\/p>\n
At yesterday's meeting, Tarmizi reported to Soeharto about
\nthis year's haj pilgrimage operation which, he admitted, had
\nencountered some \"minor complications\".<\/p>\n
During the first week of the pilgrims' departures in April,
\nthousands of people booked on the first flights turned out not to
\nhave visas from the Saudi Arabian embassy.<\/p>\n
The operation to bring home the pilgrims, however, was
\nconsidered more of a success.<\/p>\n
Because of the departure problems, \"all officials involved in
\nthe haj pilgrimage had vowed that the operation to bring the
\npilgrims home, which lasted from May 15 to June 12, would proceed
\nsafely and smoothly,\" Tarmizi said.<\/p>\n
Tarmizi said that President Soeharto had thanked King Fahd of
\nSaudi Arabia and all of his officials who, he said, had made
\nevery effort to serve the pilgrims well.<\/p>\n
Some three million Moslems took part in the pilgrimage to
\nMecca this year. Indonesia sent approximately 195,000 pilgrims,
\nin accordance with the quota allocated by the Saudi government.
\nSome 40,000 pilgrims registered for the trip were unable to make
\nit, after the ministry of religious affairs failed in
\nnegotiations about raising the Indonesian quota.<\/p>\n
Tarmizi said that 540 Indonesians had died during the
\npilgrimage, mostly as a result of illnesses they left home with.<\/p>\n
He said that the number of deaths was lower this year than
\nlast year, which saw the death of 640 members of the Indonesian
\nhaj contingent of 165,000. In percentage terms, he said, this
\nyear's fatalities represented 0.27 percent of the total number of
\npilgrims, as compared with 0.42 percent last year.<\/p>\n
Tarmizi made no mention yesterday of reports that Indonesia's
\nflag carrier, Garuda Indonesia, intends to seek compensation from
\nthe ministry for the 5,896 empty seats which resulted from the
\nApril glitches.<\/p>\n
The empty seats reportedly cost Garuda Rp 18 billion (US$8
\nmillion).<\/p>\n
Garuda added 14 extra flights to Jeddah during this year's haj
\nseason.<\/p>\n
On a related topic, Tarmizi spoke of the ministry's plan to
\nsend lecturers from the State Institute of Islamic Studies to
\nstudy at McGill University in Canada for a period of six years.<\/p>\n
He said the ministry intended 45 of the lecturers to gain
\nmasters degrees and eight to gain doctorates.<\/p>\n
The ministry also has plans to send some teachers from the
\ninstitute to a number of countries in the Middle East, he said.
\n(swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ulemas-asked-to-help-improve-haj-management-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}