Indonesia Plans To Reduce 2016 Haj Pilgrimage Cost

By Azeman Ariffin JAKARTA, May 5 (Bernama) -- The Indonesian government plans to reduce this year's cost of the Muslim pilgrimage for its citizens. Local media reported Thursday that members of the House of Representatives had reached agreement with the Religious Affairs Ministry to lower the 2016 Haj fee to US$2,528 (RM10,112) from last year's US$2,717 (RM10,868). Nevertheless, the proposal must receive the approval of President Joko Widodo. House of Representatives deputy speaker Sodik Mudjahid was quoted as saying that the legislative assembly also proposed that the government enhance several facilities and services for the pilgrims in the Holy Land. He said these included providing 25 meals in Makkah compared to only 15 last year, upgrading the buses provided for transportation in the Saudi Arabian cities, as well as facilities and services in Arafah, Muzdalifah and Mina. Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said the Indonesian pilgrim quota for this year was 168,800 and that Indonesia had requested an additional 10,000 pilgrims but a decision had yet to be made by the Saudi Arabian government. "The Saudi Arabian government has informed that it has to maintain the 20 per cent reduction in the quota because of ongoing work to upgrade the area around the Grand Mosque," he said. He also said that the Saudi Arabian government had assured that it would enhance safety measures in view of the construction in the Grand Mosque area. Last year, 107 people were killed and 238 others injured after a powerful storm toppled a construction crane onto the Grand Mosque. Indonesia suffered 12 dead and 49 injured. -- BERNAMA