Security body to help govt in haj affairs
Security body to help govt in haj affairs
JAKARTA (JP): Concerned by the numerous problems in the dispatching of 195,000 Indonesian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, the government decided yesterday to involve a security coordinating body to make the ongoing operation run more smoothly.
Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman said after leading a special limited cabinet meeting that the Agency for the Coordination of Support for the Development of National Stability (Bakorstanas) is ready to be deployed.
He did not specify how the agency could help matters.
The Director General of Islamic and Haj Affairs Ahmad Gozali told The Jakarta Post, however, that the agency has actually been involved all along. The agency officials, for instance, have been deployed to maintain security in the operation, he said.
The first days of the operation, which started last Saturday, were marked with chaos when thousands of prospective pilgrims had to cancel their departures because of lack of visas. A number of pilgrims reacted to these trials and tribulations by demonstrating at some haj offices.
Tensions dissipated markedly after the Saudi Arabian embassy completed issuing the visas on Thursday. Reports about problems in the dispatching of pilgrims at some regions were still coming in, however.
"Now the condition has improved greatly," Ahmad said, signaling that the security agency's involvement is no longer needed. "Even if they are still deployed, it's only as a precaution."
Soesilo described the magnitude of responsibilities involved in the operation. "Sending out all these pilgrims is like dispatching 20 troop divisions," he said.
The job requires perfect coordination from all institutions involved, he added. "Proper approaches should be employed at all levels, from regional haj affairs offices to embarkation points," Soesilo said.
He conceded that many flaws have crept in and that, from now on, every detail of the operation has to be re-examined and improved.
"Even small problems can get out of hand and become big problems unless proper solutions are found promptly," he said. "It's like a chronic illness".
Commenting on the numerous cancellations and delays of flights, as well as other glitches, which occurred in the operation over the past week, Soesilo said better job definitions are definitely needed.
He suggested, among other things, that an official be appointed to process the passports of passengers belonging to one flight.
Meticulous attention to detail would prevent officials from engaging in a game of pass-the-blame when things go wrong, he said.
The hour-long meeting was also attended by Chief of the Armed Forces Gen. Feisal Tanjung, Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto and Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher.
Tarmizi ducked out when reporters approached him for comments.
The Antara news agency reported from Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, that at least 160 seats were left vacant yesterday because the pilgrims had yet to receive their visas. (01)