Haj problems show government's incompetence

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government's failure to keep its promise to allow almost 30,000 Indonesians to perform the haj pilgrimage in Mecca simply shows the government's lack of professionalism in its management of the pilgrimage, a haj watchdog has said.

Zaim Ukhrowi, director of Maslahat Haji, a watchdog organization, called for revision of Law No. 17/1999 on haj affairs, which permits the government the opportunity to enter the business of haj transportation and accommodation.

"The law allows the government to be both referee and player in the profitable business at the same time. There will always be potential for a conflict of interest," he told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Zaim was commenting on the postponement of travel to Mecca for the haj for almost 30,000 Indonesian Muslims.

Indonesia has received a quota of 205,000 seats for haj pilgrims this year. Minister of Religious Affairs Said Agil Hussein Al Munawar had requested the Saudi Arabian government allocate some 30,000 additional seats.

Although the Saudi Arabian government had not yet given its approval, the minister announced the availability of an additional 30,000 seats.

"Without a revision of the law and efforts to improve professionalism, there will always be problems in haj management," Zaim said.

Separately, two nongovernmental organizations, Consumer Watch and Monopoly Watch, plan to file a class action against the religious affairs ministry over the problem.

The organizations have also questioned the possibility of the government refunding the money of the disappointed 30,000 haj applicants.

Said has said the money will be returned if that is desired by the people concerned.

Heri Akhmadi, a legislator in charge of supervising the haj management, also called on the government to return the people's money.

He added that the minister should publicly apologize to them.

Meanwhile, House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung also regretted that the minister had rushed to announce the additional quota of 30,000 prior to receiving confirmation from the Saudi Arabian government.

The 2001 Indonesian haj totaled 192,000 people. The Saudi Arabian government pledged to grant an additional 13,000 places without the need for a written agreement. Later, the Saudi Arabian government kept to its promise and gave 13,000 places in additional quota.

The quota for last year was 205,000 and the Saudis again promised an additional quota of up to 8,000. The number of haj pilgrims then totaled 213,000 people.

Zaim reminded that the business relating to transportation and accommodation for Indonesian haj pilgrims was dominated by the government.

Of the 205,000 would-be hajis, 95 percent were handled by the government, he said.

"About 200 private companies deal with the remaining five percent of haj pilgrims, or 12,000 people -- deluxe services, known as ONH Plus," he added.