Last flight of pilgrims ends largest ever haj operation

JAKARTA (JP): The largest ever haj operation conducted by the government ended when the last of 355 flights bringing the Moslem pilgrims home arrived at the Halim Perdanakusuma airport yesterday.

The operation, to send some 165,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, was not without its share of controversy.

The pilgrims on the last flight were welcomed by Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher, Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto, Minister of Health Sujudi, Chairman of the Indonesian Ulemas Council Hasan Basri, Jakarta Vice Governor R.S. Moeseno and Abdurrahman M.A. Buchori of the Saudi Embassy.

Despite the government's effort to reduce the number of fatalities during the pilgrimage, this year still saw a record of 638 Indonesian pilgrims die, mostly of aging related illnesses. Seven of the dead pilgrims were killed during a stampede in Mina.

For Moslems to die during the course of a holy pilgrimage is considered a blessing and this is one reason why many people, despite their health, insist on joining, often duping the health authorities.

In percentage terms, casualties represented about 0.4 percent of the total pilgrims, compared to 0.3 percent last year when Indonesia sent some 123,000 pilgrims.

Minister of Health Sujudi explained that over 55 percent of those who died in Saudi Arabia were over 60 years old. "But we cannot stop those old people from observing the haj."

Sujudi reminded all Indonesians who want to go on haj next year to take the cold weather in Saudi Arabia into consideration. "Next year will be much colder than this year, especially during the nights."

Noting that the number of Indonesia pilgrims exceeded the quota of 160,000 pilgrims, Tarmizi thanked the government of Saudi Arabia for tolerating the matter.

For next year, Tarmizi said Indonesia will propose a higher quota. The new quota will be decided together among ministers of religious affairs from countries of the Islamic Conference Organization, who will convene in Mecca later this year.

Touching on the fare that must be paid to go on haj, Tarmizi promised that next year's fare will not be much more than the Rp 6.9 million (US$3,280) this year.

He said that much depends on the dollar exchange rate given that the majority of the expenses, notably the air fares, are denominated in the U.S. dollar.

Commenting on why the Indonesian government-mandated haj fare is so much higher than standard tour packages or the cost in Malaysia, Minister Haryanto said Indonesia has to charter planes to carry its 165,000 pilgrims. Each passenger virtually has to pay two return airfares because during the operation to send out the pilgrims, the flights returned from Saudi Arabia empty and during the operation to fly them home, the planes leave Jakarta empty, he said.

This means that the airfares a pilgrim has to pay are more expensive than if he had flown on scheduled flights.

"You cannot compare us with Malaysia, who only send around 20,000 each year, all of them accommodated by regularly scheduled flights. But for our huge number of pilgrims, we cannot use regular flights anymore. So, we chartered planes because Garuda does not have enough planes," Haryanto said.

He also stated that this year's haj transportation management was better than last year's. The number of delayed flights this year was only 4.3 percent, thanks to the good condition of the plane operators. "Most of the delays were caused by the pilgrims who were late in entering the airports," Haryanto said.

Rejection

The minister rejected the money saving proposals to end Garuda Indonesia's virtual monopoly on haj flights.

"If they (private air services) have planes and want to help, they can lease their planes to Garuda," Haryanto said.

He also said that he had asked Saudi Air to help carry Indonesian pilgrims, but the request was turned down. "But if they're willing to take on Indonesian pilgrims next year, we'll welcome the gesture."

This year's pilgrimage was nearly derailed for some pilgrims when the government threatened to prevent those leaving through private arrangements rather than through the costly state- sponsored program.

The government insisted that in the future, all Indonesian pilgrims must travel on brown passports specially issued by the government to ensure that all pilgrims use the national service.

Tarmizi promised yesterday that before the pilgrims depart next year, the government will issue a ruling on those who go on haj with a normal passport. (11)