VP defends Minister of Religious Affairs

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra

Vice President Hamzah Haz jumped to the defense of Minister of Religious Affairs Said Agiel Munawar, who has come under fire following the recent cancellation of the 2004 haj pilgrimage for 30,000 hopeful Indonesian Muslims.

The pilgrimage was canceled, as the Saudi Arabian government rejected Jakarta's request for an additional pilgrimage quota.

Hamzah said Said should not be blamed for the cancellation and that he himself was aware that the Saudi government might reject Indonesia's request for an additional quota for the 2004 haj.

He said he had asked the Saudi Arabian crown prince for an expanded quota and had received a positive sign.

"Suddenly, a new development in Saudi Arabia made them unable to accept more pilgrims. There are 17 countries, including Indonesia, which cannot send more pilgrims than their original quota," Hamzah said on the sidelines of the 30th anniversary of the Medan State Islamic Institute.

Disappointed pilgrims have demanded Said Agiel's resignation, although the government has promised those unable to make the pilgrimage because of recent events that they would be given top priority for the 2005 season without any additional fees.

A prospective pilgrim reportedly died of shock after hearing of the cancellation.

Hamzah said he had already sent a letter and made a phone call to the Saudi government to reconsider the cancellation.

"We don't know the real problem out there, but we have been trying to ask for a new policy to make amends for the cancellation. We are still awaiting Saudi Arabia's response on this," he said.

He called on people not to make a fuss over the cancellation, reminding them that Indonesia was not the only country facing the sudden decision.

"Don't make it a political issue," he said.

The Vice President dismissed the possibility of bringing the matter up at a Cabinet meeting, saying there was nothing to discuss.

Asked whether the government was prepared for a class action filed by disappointed pilgrims, Hamzah reiterated his call for calm.

"I told you I also knew about the cancellation. But this is beyond our capacity as a nation."

Separately, Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) chairman Sahal Mahfudz called on disappointed pilgrimage candidates to exercise their restraint and remain patient, because the religious affairs ministry had carried out its job well.

"The haj pilgrims should not blame the Saudi Arabian government, either, because the Holy Land (Mecca) cannot accommodate more pilgrims," Sahal said as quoted by Antara.

He responded to demands from various groups to dissolve the religious affairs ministry due to the cancellation: "If the ministry is dissolved, who will take care of the pilgrimage? We will only worsen the situation."