Haj pilgrimage for

Haj pilgrimage for
Islamic bodies

From Koran Tempo

The Religious Affairs Ministry's Director General for Haj
Affairs, Tulus, has stated that the operational improvements of
the haj should be realized by amending the Haj Pilgrimage Law of
1999.

Earlier, the House of Representatives' team for the pilgrimage
supervision proposed the ministry's function be abolished --
which would leave the ministry with the main role of
providing religious direction.

So far, haj affairs in Indonesia have been muddled. The idea
of amending the haj pilgrimage law is good, but it is better for
the religious affairs ministry to dissolve its haj affairs
institution and leave its operation to mass-Islamic
organizations.

Muhammadiyah, Nahdlatul Ulama and Al-Wasliyah can handle the
operations and most would-be haj pilgrims are affiliates or
members of these organizations. The government needs only to
announce pilgrimage quotas and ceilings of pilgrimage fees.

Meanwhile, the officials sent to assist pilgrims, such as
medical personnel, should be financed by the Ministry of Health
Affairs instead of being paid with funds from haj pilgrimage
fees. Everything should be fair in dealing with the performance
of religious duties.

ZOEL FAUZI LUBIS
Jakarta