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)