Govt pledges not to raise haj fee

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