Indonesian Government Announces Reduction In Haj Pilgrimage Cost

JAKARTA, May 29 (Bernama) -- The Indonesian government has announced a reduction in the cost for Haj pilgrimage this year by US$502 (RM1,800). Indonesian President Joko Widodo said with the reduction, the cost to perform the pilgrimage this year stood at US$2,717 (RM9,500) compared to US$ 3,219 (RM11,267) last year. He was quoted by local media as saying that the reduction was due to a review and cut in operating costs. "We have been successful, and the pilgrimage cost in 2015 has decreased significantly compared to last year's," he said. Jokowi had signed a presidential decree for the 2015 Haj Financing to be implemented by the country's Ministry of Religious Affairs. He said the cost reduction was also due to the success of austerity measures, and the efficiency of air and land transport, as well as the placement of pilgrims in Mecca. Meanwhile, Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin was quoted as saying that the country's quota of pilgrims this year stood at 168,800. He added that although the cost of the pilgrimage was lowered, the ministry would continue to improve services for pilgrims to the holy land. He said among the improvements made were that the congregation would be provided one meal per day during their 15-day stay in Mecca. Lukman also said that all pilgrims from Indonesia had the opportunity to land directly in Medina, rather than using land transport to get there from the Jeddah airport. The first Haj flight to take off from the country is scheduled for Aug 21, and the first return flight will be on Sept 28. --BERNAMA