Smooth departure for first haj pilgrims
Smooth departure for first haj pilgrims
JAKARTA (JP): The first flight taking Indonesians on the haj
pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia took off from Halim Perdanakusuma
Airport yesterday on time, an encouraging sign to kick off the
massive operation which in the past has often been beset with
trouble.
Gone was the confusion which colored initial departures of the
past, such as the wrong order of flights, delays, lost luggage,
or even pilgrims allowed to depart without a Saudi visa.
The Boeing 747 plane belonging to Garuda Indonesia carried 480
pilgrims, including five accompanying officials.
The first flight left after a brief ceremony. Seeing the
travelers off were Ahmad Gozali, the director general of Islamic
development and haj affairs, and other senior officials of the
Ministry of Religious Affairs and Garuda Indonesia.
Gozali said this year's operation was expected to go smoother,
thereby allowing pilgrims to carry out their tasks in peace.
"I'm very sure that this year's pilgrimage will be blessed by
Allah in spite of the economic crisis," he said.
By 5:30 p.m. yesterday, 6,953 pilgrims had left for Saudi
Arabia from Halim and five other airports in the haj operation,
according to the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
A total of 201,961 Indonesians have registered to join in this
year's haj pilgrimage, which is compulsory for every Moslem who
has the physical and financial ability.
President Soeharto has appointed outgoing Minister of
Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher as amirul haj, or head of the
Indonesian haj delegation. Former Air Force chief of staff
Marshal Rilo Pambudi will be Tarmizi's deputy.
Besides Halim, the government has designated five other
airports as embarkation points. They are Polonia in Medan, Juanda
in Surabaya, Hasanuddin in Ujungpandang, Adisoemarmo in
Surakarta, and Sepinggan in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.
Batam's Hang Nadim Airport will also be making its debut in
pilgrimage flights with one plane expected to take pilgrims from
the Riau province.
Pilgrims leaving from Jakarta check into the haj dormitory in
Pondok Gede, East Jakarta, for an overnight stay and last minute
administrative and health checkups before boarding their planes.
Air Marshal Rilo paid a short visit to the Pondok Gede Haj
Dormitory yesterday to ensure smooth preparations. He also
planned to check on five dormitories in other towns.
"I just want to make sure that every pilgrim is properly
served," he said.
The first departures from other airports also went relatively
smoothly, according to Antara.
But the first flight from Polonia Airport was delayed 20
minutes, the news agency said.
Signs of chaos were seen outside the airport and outside
Pondok Gede dormitory as relatives wishing to bid goodbye
insisted on seeing their loved ones depart, in spite of an
official appeal not to do so and tight security.
The operation to send pilgrims to Saudi Arabia will end March
30. The operation resumes to bring them home after Idul Adha,
Moslem Sacrifice Day, on April 7. (emf)