HOUSE INITIATIVE TO END GOVT DUAL ROLE IN HAJJ BUSINESS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 17 (ANTARA) - Labeled as the worst-managed in Indonesia's history, this year's hajj pilgrimage has become the subject of a motion of at least 121 legislators for a parliamentary inquiry into the government's performance in organizing the annual activity.

        The lawmakers proposed on Tuesday the establishment of a hajj inquiry committee which is expected to issue a recommendation that the government should terminate its dual role of regulator as well as operator of hajj pilgrimages which cost over US$700 million per year.

        "We do not rule out the possibility that we will recommend the separation of the government's role as regulator from that as operator of the hajj pilgrimage," House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Agung Laksono said here on Tuesday.

        The House Speaker made the remarks in response to a proposal submitted by 121 legislators to set up an inquiry committee over the government's organization of the hajj pilgrimage.

        He received the proposal for the inquiry at the DPR building on Tuesday. The proposal was submitted by the initiators, including Abdullah Azwar Anas of the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction and was supported by various political party factions in House such as the factions of Golkar, PKB, the United Development Party (PPP), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the Reforms Star Party (PBR) and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

        Teams fielded by the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) have found weaknesses in the implementation of the hajj pilgrimage programs, describing it as the worst in the history of hajj management in Indonesia.

        "Our teams in Saudi Arabia and at home found that this year's hajj services were the worst one, particularly with regard to accommodations and transportation services," DPD deputy chairman Laode Ida said.

        He said that the location of Indonesian hajj pilgrims' housing accommodation was the farthest this year away from the Haram Mosque, even it is located some 18-19 km away.

        As a result of lack of transportation means that served the Jeddah-Madina-Makkah routes, Indonesian hajj pilgrims were compelled to go on foot. He said that the bad hajj pilgrimage management indicated the failure of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in providing appropriate hajj services.

        In order to overcome the problem, the chief organizer of Indonesian Hajj Pilgrimages (PPIH) in Saudi Arabia, Nur Samad Kamba, said the government should set certain service standards for the hajj pilgrimage program next year to serve as guidance for field officials in carrying out their tasks.

        Service standards are needed to handle the pilgrimage of over 200,000 hajj pilgrims every year.

        "Professional service standards had better be set so pilgrims who pay more will get more service as well. The standards should be set based on an agreement by all parties involved," he said in Jedda on Tuesday.

        He said that the service standards should be made based on professional service paradigm and should be contained in a government decision and working plan.

        Without professional standards, the services rendered by the government during the hajj pilgrimage this year have disappointed hajj pilgrims due to, among other things, delays, expensive airline tickets, inappropriate accommodations and transportation services in Saudi Arabia

        "This indicates that the ministry of religious affairs still applied the trial and error approach, while we should not do so in organizing a religious ritual," Laode said.

        The DPD therefore came up with the idea to propose the separation of the authority as regulator and as operator of the country's hajj pilgrimage services. With regard to this, it supported the proposal by 121 legislators for establishment of an inquiry committee over the organization of 2008 hajj pilgrimage services.

        "The DPD supports the establishment of an inquiry committee on the 2008 hajj pilgrimage services as proposed by several initiators such as Abdullah Azwar Anas of the House Commission VIII on religious affairs," Laode Ida said.

        The legislators have submitted a hajj inquiry committee establishment proposal in their efforts to find facts on the hajj management.

        "The House is trying its best to uncover problems faced in the execution of hajj pilgrim services and to encourage serious efforts to improve it, House Speaker Agung Laksono said.

        One of the improvements is the separation of the government role as regulator from that as operator, while the implementation of the services could be carried out by the private sector and regional governments.

        He said that the House might issue a recommendation to terminate the government's dual function of regulator as well as operator of the annual hajj pilgrimage. This caused efforts to improve hajj pilgrimage services to run very slowly.

        Laksono said the DPR leadership would take follow-up steps on the proposal. The legislators were of the view that the organization of this year's hajj pilgrimage was worse than last year.

        He said the number of legislators proposing the inquiry had exceeded the minimum required by regulations, namely at least 13 legislators from different factions.  (T.A014/A/HAJM/19:45/A014) 17-12-2008 19:48:20