Govt pledges not to raise haj fee

JAKARTA: The government has promised not to raise the cost for the haj pilgrimage next year, citing successful efforts to improve efficiency.

"We will not raise the haj fee for 2006," Minister of Religious Affairs Maftuh Basyuni said at the presidential office on Wednesday.

Haj pilgrims paid about Rp 30 million (US$3,191) each for the 2005 season.

For the next haj season, Saudi Arabia has increased the quota of Indonesian pilgrims to 207,000 next season, but the government has decided to stick to the old quota of 205,000.

According to Maftuh, who just arrived from Saudi Arabia, each pilgrim will be entitled to 3.5 square meters in space, a little bit wider than the previous space. No room service fees will be charged, enabling the government to save about $13 million, he said. -- JP