Luxury haj operators demand raised quota

JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Umroh and Haj Operators (AMPUH), operators that offer more deluxe services on the haj pilgrimage, are demanding an increase of their quota of pilgrims from 7,500 to 10,000.

AMPUH's chairman, Mahfudz Djaelani, said that the quota for the luxury service should be increased due to increased demand.

At a hearing with the House of Representatives Commission IX for religion, education and sports, AMPUH gained qualified support from the House.

The total quota allotted to Indonesia in next year's haj pilgrimage is 200,000, a number which was filled in less than two weeks after registration opened on Sept. 1.

The regular fare for the pilgrimage is Rp 8.8 million (US$3,000).

But under AMPUH, the price is between $5,000 and $9,000. The higher price is due to plush facilities which include accommodations at a luxury hotel.

Mahfudz also argued that the number of operators in AMPUH had increased from seven to 96 in the past few years. But only 50 operators are currently licensed to offer haj services, the other operators are only allowed to provide umroh pilgrimage facilities to Saudi Arabia.

The haj is conducted once a year while the umroh can be carried out at any time of the year.

"Therefore, it would not be too much for AMPUH to ask the government to increase the quota of luxury pilgrims," Mahfudz said.

At yesterday's hearing, chaired by Ismael Hassan of the Golkar faction, legislators agreed to support AMPUH's call for a larger quota for the luxury haj pilgrimage.

But they stressed that haj pilgrims should not regard themselves as an elite or exclusive group.

"Before God, all people are equal and that is the main purpose of the haj," said Cholil Bisri of the United Development Party,

He added that AMPUH's proposal to increase the quota should not be based on business interests alone.

Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher is currently lobbying the Saudi Arabian government to increase Indonesia's overall quota to 203,000, in accordance with Indonesia's population of 200 million.

The quota ratio is usually one haj pilgrim for every 1,000 citizens of a country.

Should Indonesia's quota be increased, Mahfudz expects the number allowed for luxury pilgrims to also rise.

"The quota increase should also result in the increase of AMPUH's quota for the luxury pilgrimage," he said. (10)