Jakarta, Sept 17 (Antara) - Ever since the renovation work began at the Haram Mosque in Mecca in 2013, Indonesia's hajj quota, like those of other countries, has remained reduced by 20 percent from 211,000 to 168,800.
Once the renovation is completed, the Saudi government is likely to restore Indonesia's quota of 211,000 next year. However, the rising number of hajj pilgrims also poses a risk, particularly in the Arafah, Mina and Muzdalifah terrains, the three important sites of hajj rituals.
Therefore, Indonesia, which sends the largest tranche of hajj pilgrims every year, considers it very important to improve the hajj services and hajj facilities, such as boarding, tents, catering and toilet facilities.
Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said additional hajj quota without improved facilities, particularly in Mina, could pose a danger.
"It is true that the additional quota will shorten the waiting list of would-be hajj pilgrims in Indonesia but it would pose a threat if the service facilities in Mina are not improved," the minister stated in Jidda, moments before flying back to Indonesia on Friday.
The minister made the remarks in the context of Saudi Arabia possibly enhancing Indonesia's hajj quota after the completion of the expansion project of the Haram Mosque in Mecca.
Lukman Hakim Saifuddin underlined that the conditions in Mina are currently not convenient for pilgrims because facilities are inadequate even though the hajj quota of all countries has been reduced by 20 percent.
He also particularly highlighted the condition of the tents and inadequate toilets as well as the arrangements for ensuring a smooth flow of pilgrims while entering and leaving the Mina site.
"The tents are not properly handled. There is no good service. The number of bathrooms and toilets has not increased. The pathways are not properly allocated. All countries have had their quota reduced by 20 percent, yet the conditions in Mina are like that," he pointed out.
Mina is a risky point for pilgrims where stampede has occurred often. The latest stampede happened in 2015 along Lane 204 of Mina during the hurling ritual. Hundreds of pilgrims, including more than 100 Indonesians, were killed in that accident.
"Therefore, we cannot just see one aspect, namely an increase in quota. We have to pay attention to the need to improve the infrastructure. Instead of being an advantage, an increased quota could actually lead to an adverse impact," he argued, adding that increasing the number of toilets was one of the most urgent requirements.
Based on field observations, there are always long queues of people wanting to avail of the toilet facilities. At any time, there are 10 people waiting for their turn to use the toilet. Pilgrims stay in Mina for about two to three days.
However, the minister is aware that improving facilities in Mina does not fall within the Indonesian government's remit. "This is entirely the responsibility of the Saudi government. It is a challenge for us to convince them," he added.
Indonesia had a hajj quota of 211,000 pilgrims before 2013 but it was reduced by 20 percent to 168,800 since the renovation of the Haram Mosque began in 2013. Of the 168,800 strong quota, 155,200 could be regular hajj pilgrims and the remaining 13,600 slots were for pilgrims under the special hajj service.
Any increase in quota in 2017 or the possibility of it being restored to the previous level of 211,000 from the current 168,800, will also pose a challenge when it comes to facilities in Arafah and Muzdalifah, namely, the capacity of tents in Arafah and the accommodation capacity of Muzdalifah.
It can be imagined how complex the problems will become. It will require a better monitoring system. The Arafah, Muzdalifah and Mina operation unit should be beefed up with a larger number of hajj officials better equipped to carry out their tasks.
According to the minister, the additional quota will also pose a significant challenge when it comes to making arrangements for accommodation, transportation and catering. "It's not that simple," he stressed.
Even as the interest among Indonesian citizens to go for hajj pilgrimage remains high, in certain regions the existing waiting list is so long that people will have to wait for more than 20 years.
In recent times, the Indonesian government has been exerting pressure to reduce the waiting time, including taking measures to prevent would-be pilgrims from resorting to illegal means to go to the Holy Land.
Last month, tens of Indonesian citizens were arrested in the Philippines for using forged documents to go to Saudi Arabia using the Philippine Hajj quota.
Currently, 700 Indonesian hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia are there after having travelled on Philippine passports.***4*** (A014/INE)EDITED BY INE
(T.A014/A/BESSR/A. Abdussalam) 17-09-2016 19:45: |
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