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)