Non-paying pilgrims

Non-paying pilgrims

From Suara Karya

Several newspapers have run reports on non-paying pilgrims from a certain government institution. Such people are nicknamed haji abidin meaning "people who perform a pilgrimage and become a haj at the expense of the government." Garuda Indonesia also routinely gives free seats to certain government officials, who in fact are perfectly capable of paying for the pilgrimage themselves.

I would like to appeal to the government and the related authorities to use these funds for the nurture of poor children in the eastern part of Indonesia. People should realize that Moslems in parts of eastern Indonesia such as East Nusa Tenggara, East Timor, Maluku and Irian Jaya need the funds badly for the education of their children.

The parents in these areas have to send their children to pondok pesantren (Islamic Boarding Schools) either in Sulawesi, East Java, Central Java or West Java.

Those who have performed the haj pilgrimage several times and want to go again could be allowed to do so with some conditions attached. For example, they should have been foster parents for some time. Or they should have donated money to certain social foundations. In other words, such people should be coaxed into participating in the government's program to eradicate poverty in this country.

ABDUL KADIR SO

Blitar, East Java