Government to tighten rules for haj organizers

Government to tighten rules for haj organizers

JAKARTA (JP): The government will tighten the rules for
organizers of the haj pilgrimage, following heavy criticism of
this year's chaotic travel arrangements.

Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher said yesterday,
that in the future, haj pilgrimage arrangements will have to be
handled by organizations.

"Then their performances will be evaluated every year. If they
are erratic, their permits will be revoked," Tarmizi said.

Currently, there are no strict regulations concerning the
organization of haj pilgrims. In many instances, unauthorized
individuals and organizations tend to prospective pilgrims'
administrative procedures, such as the visas, and arranging their
departures.

There have been persistent reports this season of haj
organizers embezzling their customers' fees or failing to arrange
the departures on time, causing a substantial number of delays.

This season, Indonesia is sending more than 195,000 pilgrims
to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. More than 230,000 Moslems registered for
the journey but the Saudi government set the quota at 195,000
pilgrims.

Hundreds of prospective pilgrims in Jakarta had to suspend
their departure because they had not received their passports or
visas on the day they were due to leave.

Various officials and observers have linked the record-high
number of would-be pilgrims, and unprofessional organizers, to
the chaos.

Tarmizi discussed the new plan with the leaders of the little
known Moslem Association, including Cholid Fadlullah, Hasan
Muarif, Anwar Shaleh, Syatori Moengin, Mahyudin Nawawi and Ido
Nurzaini.

He said that official permits will be issued to organizations
only and no individuals will be allowed to handle the lucrative
business.

"There will be no more possibility for individuals to handle
the organization of the pilgrimage," Tarmizi said. Tarmizi is
named leader, or Amirul-haj, of this season's haj pilgrimage.

Tarmizi stressed that the government had no intention of
monopolizing the haj organization but rather, it only meant to
discipline it.

The government also plans to computerize the pilgrimage
arrangement process, in order to facilitate registration. Under
the new plan, the ministry will have direct access to its offices
in the provinces.

Indonesia's Consulate General in Jeddah said yesterday that
the number of Indonesian pilgrims who have died in Saudi Arabia
has reached 33, as of yesterday. (29)