First batch of haj pilgrims set to go

JAKARTA (JP): The first flight carrying Indonesians on the haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia was scheduled to take off late on Wednesday from Adisumarno Airport in Surakarta, Central Java.

Renowned Nahdlatul Ulama scholar Mustofa Bisri and Director General for the Guidance of the Islamic Community and Haj Affairs Mubarak will start the massive operation at 10:30 p.m., Antara reported.

A total of 71,078 haj pilgrims will fly out in 180 groups from six airports: Adisumarno in Surakarta, Central Java; Soekarno- Hatta in Jakarta; Juanda in Surabaya, East Java; Hasanuddin in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi; Polonia in Medan, North Sumatra, and Sepinggan in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.

The figures indicate a sharp drop from last year's 201,961 pilgrims in 456 groups. The pilgrimage is compulsory for financially and physically able Muslims.

The departure schedule ends March 21.

On Thursday, Minister of Information M. Yunus Yosfiah will officiate at the departure of the first group from Ujungpandang at 9:15 p.m.

Minister of Religious Affairs Malik Fadjar and Yunus will see off the first group from Jakarta at 9 p.m. on Saturday.

Return of the groups is set to start on April 2 through April 27. Most haj pilgrims will depart from Ujungpandang with 62 groups, followed by 43 groups from Jakarta and 32 groups from Surabaya.

National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia announced recently it would deploy a fleet of only six planes to transport 42,500 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, down from the 26 aircraft operated for last year's haj season.

For the first time, the remaining pilgrims will be transported to Mecca by Saudi Airlines.

A sharp increase in airfares following the sharp drop in the rupiah against the U.S. dollar has discouraged many Muslims from making the pilgrimage this year.

Besides the advantage of less crowded facilities, haj organizers are expected this year to learn from their notorious past shortcomings of mischeduled flights, delays, lost luggage and ailing or visaless pilgrims allowed to depart. Last year's season was considered better than the others.

To improve health services, the Ministry of Health has provided 449 paramedics, including 155 doctors, to assist pilgrims at the six departure areas.

"We've also sent packages of medicines and medical equipment to our consulate general in Jeddah, consisting of 91 types of drugs and 26 kinds of medical devices," health minister Farid Anfasa Moeloek said on Tuesday.

Farid also warned haj pilgrims about contagious diseases.

"Meningitis, for instance, is very easy to catch because of physical contact. Even though all pilgrims have had their vaccines, they must stay healthy," he said after a meeting with legislators on a planned bill for the haj pilgrimage.

The ministry is also planning special health insurance for the pilgrimage, Farid said, details of which are being worked out with related ministries. (edt)