Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - As many as 53 premium haj (populaly known in Indonesia as haji plus) prospectives are threatened with failing to leave for the holy land because the travel agency does not pay off the deposit obligation for all the needs of pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, even though the pilgrims have already deposited.
"We were promised that we would have departed on August 4, 2019, but yesterday we were called to gather and informed we are not leaving," said Haililah, one of the candidates for Travellindo haji plus in Banjarmasin on Thursday (1/8).
Even this woman has deposited IDR 354,649,000 to leave for Hajj with her daughter, Ayu Rahmiwati.
She himself claimed to deposit the repayment because the agency was constantly urged. It was even said that there was a 10 percent discount if they made repayments faster.
Haililah was restless and her dream to perform the pilgrimage for the first time was threatened to disappear this year.
"Initially on June 17, 2014 I deposited for three people with my husband and child. The total when I registered was Rp179,625,000. But my husband died, then we would only be two with my child. We was promised for 5 years to leave. this year," said the resident of Jalan Manarap Tengah, Banjar Regency.
Other prospective pilgrim, Fatma, also expressed the same thing. She wanted to go with her husband, Sumsi Rasidi, to have paid a payment of Rp375 million.
"We have participated in manasik haji (haj rehearsal) three times. At home we have held a selamatan (farewell ritual), all our family and friends already knew. I am sad and embarrassed if we don't leave. Hopefully there is a way out so that we can all depart," she said softly.
Due to uncertainty about the planned departure to the holy land, the pilgrims gathered at the Travellindo Tours & Travel office on Jalan Pangeran Hidayatullah, East Banjarmasin.
It is their hope that they will still be able to leave, it must be less likely because of the deadline for this year's pilgrimage flight.
This case also received attention from the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia who sent the Head of Law and Legislation Mahdisin to come to Banjarmasin.
"I was sent by the director general to check the problems at Travellindo. We are still coordinating with the association because Travellindo is under the auspices of the association. We will see the association's commitment to the protection of pilgrims," Mahdisin said.
The Ministry knew there are problems in Travellindo after the data administration system of prospective pilgrims shown that the travel agency has not yet paid off. Even though time is tight
"The closing gate is around August 6, 2019. But the fact is, up to now 53 Travellindo premium haj prospectives recorded in our system have not yet been administered. Such as hotel payments in Mecca and Medina, then transportation and so on," he explained.
While the police also moved quickly by visiting the Travellindo office to dig up information from pilgrims and the agency. The investigation team led by Head of Industry and Trade of South Kalimantan Regional Police Directorate of special crime Investigation (Indagsi Ditreskrimsus) AKBP H Suyitno Ardhi
