Number of haj pilgrims falls by 70%

Number of haj pilgrims falls by 70%

JAKARTA (JP): Registrations for the government-organized haj
pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia have plummeted by almost 70 percent
this year because of the economic crisis, a report said on
Thursday.

Only 61,226 Moslems had signed up for the haj program when
registration closed on Wednesday, Antara said.

Indonesia, with the world's largest Moslem population, sent
198,984 pilgrims in 1997.

The registration deadline was extended twice this year.

Saudi Arabian authorities have allotted a quota of 202,000 for
Indonesian pilgrims this year. In the past, Indonesia often
requested greater quotas for its pilgrims because of high
interest, but the situation has changed dramatically since the
onset of a crippling economic crisis in July last year.

Moslems make up 87 percent of Indonesia's 202 million people.

The government annually organizes the pilgrimage, with
officials saying each pilgrim must pay Rp 21 million (US$2,700)
for the full board and transport package.

The director for haj affairs at the Ministry of Religious
Affairs, Tulus, said pilgrims paid Rp 1.4 trillion this year.

South Sumatra is sending the most pilgrims (14,680), followed
by East Java (9,500), West Java (5,924), Jakarta (4,796), and
Central Java (3,908).

The pilgrims will be flown to Saudi Arabia through Polonia
Airport in Medan, Halim Perdanakusuma in Jakarta, Juanda in
Surabaya, Hasanudin in Ujungpandang, Sepinggan in Balikpapan and
Adisumarmo in Surakarta. The annual event is a month-long
logistical challenge for the Indonesian government which
coordinates documentation, food and transport for the travelers.

Islam requires financially able followers to perform the haj
pilgrimage to sacred Moslem sites in Saudi Arabia at least once
in their lifetime.