Larger haj dorm needed

Larger haj dorm needed

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher says
a larger haj dormitory is needed because the current dormitory in
Pondok Gede can no longer accommodate the ever increasing number
of prospective haj pilgrims.

"We need a larger dormitory, to accommodate prospective haj
pilgrims before their departure for Mecca," Tarmizi told Antara
during an impromptu visit to the Pondok Gede dormitory on
Tuesday.

This year, Indonesia is sending 195,000 people for the haj
pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The departures of the first,
of more than 450 prearranged flights, had been chaotic as many of
those listed among the first to leave were still not in
possession of visas from the Saudi Arabian embassy in Jakarta

Tarmizi has become the target of criticism for the chaotic
situation, but the criticism ebbed when the minister announced
that he was accepting all the blame. (bas)