17,000 moved out of haj list

JAKARTA: The government has moved over 17,000 applicants for the haj pilgrimage in 2006 to a waiting list because they had either performed the haj before, or because they were under 17 years of age.

Acting director of haj administration Tulus said on Monday the policy was taken because the number of people registered for the pilgrimage had hit 224,900, far above the quota of 205,000 given to Indonesia.

Applicants who have paid their haj fee can either withdraw their money, or keep it in the bank so that they can be registered for the 2007 haj season.

Tulus said his office removed 978 children from the list because they are not yet obliged to perform the pilgrimage. -- Antara