2012 S. Sumatra haj quota fulfilled

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: The quota for the haj from South Sumatra province for the next four years, up to 2012, is fully booked, an official said Monday.

Head of the provincial agricultural agency's pilgrimage division Udin Johan said as many as 27,000 candidate pilgrims had been recorded as of the present.

But only between 6,000 and 6,500 can depart for the pilgrimage each year.

"Those who are not on the list to go are listed on the waiting list for next year's pilgrimage," he said, explaining why the registered candidates would fully fill the quota for up to 2012.

He also said the haj organizing committee had found a closer location for the haj pilgrims to stay during the pilgrimage, adding he was optimistic complaints over long commutes to religious sites would no longer be made this year.

"The Indonesian haj organizing committee has rented 118 houses with a total capacity of 52,363 pilgrims, located within a radius of less than 2 kilometers from Masjidil Haram Mosque," he said.

Others, he added, were located within a 2 to 7 kilometer radius of the mosque.

There were a total of 290 houses in this area with a total capacity to house 142,410 pilgrims, he added. - JP