Haj problems show government's incompetence

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.