Hamzah cancels haj trip to Mecca

Vice President Hamzah Haz has canceled his plan to perform a haj pilgrimage this year, citing the unremitting floods that have left over 100 people dead nationwide and nearly crippled the country's economy.

"I have decided to postpone my pilgrimage ... Insyah Allah (God willing), I might go next year," Hamzah told reporters during a one-day official visit to South Bengkulu on Tuesday.

Hamzah was initially scheduled to join a batch of 87 pilgrims departing for Mecca in Saudi Arabia on Jan. 18, Antara reported.

The Vice President said he informed President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Monday of his change of plan.

Unlike Hamzah, House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung, who is a suspect in a graft scandal involving the State Logistics Agency, said after his latest questioning session on Monday that he would go ahead with his plan to perform his second pilgrimage. Akbar is slated to leave the country on Thursday.

The Attorney General's Office has been widely criticized for exempting Akbar from the travel ban which usually applies to suspects in high-profile scandals, including Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril Sabirin.

A group of ulemas in Yogyakarta and Central Java have called on state officials to stay at home during the present time of crisis and ordeal.

Nearly 200,000 Indonesians will be among 2.5 million haj pilgrims this season. The month-long pilgrimage will peak on Feb. 22, when Muslims across the world celebrate the Day of Sacrifice. -- JP