Jakarta – Every year, Indonesia contends with one of the most complex logistical feats in the world: the haj. Home to approximately 231 million Muslims, the country regularly sends the biggest groups of citizens to Islam's holiest sites in Saudi Arabia.

As the fifth pillar of Islam, the haj is a mandatory once in a lifetime journey for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it, and is the most significant manifestation of the faith.

However, after decades of handling embarkations for one of the largest mass gatherings anywhere in the world, one would think that Indonesia had gleaned enough data and developed sufficient expertise to tailor the haj experience.

Instead, we still hear about the decades-long waiting list that many would-be pilgrims must endure, or about the annual haj-related death toll that rises alongside the number of elderly and medically at-risk participants.

As of Saturday, the Religious Affairs Ministry had recorded 121 deaths among Indonesian pilgrims, with dozens of others also reported by authorities from other countries.

Recently, Saudi authorities cracked down on predatory schemes that exploit the sense of desperation that develops with the situation. Twenty-two Indonesian nationals got swept up and deported, while two others face Saudi criminal prosecution.

Make no mistake – the government-led organization of the annual haj has made huge strides over the past few decades, especially given Indonesia's circumstances.

However, organizers still seem to be at a loss when planning around the limitations of the annual haj quota.

In 1987, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) agreed to establish a quota system for visitors to Mecca, which limits the number allowed by each country to 0.1 percent of its population. Ultimately, it is based on Saudi Arabia's capacity to host large populations of Muslims within the span of several weeks, every year.

While the Saudis have continued to expand and improve their haj amenities in the harsh desert landscape, the quota system inevitably impacts waiting times.

Due to the limited number of spots, high public interest and the rising costs of haj, someone who registers this year for the "regular" state-subsidized haj scheme would have to wait between 11 and 47 years for their turn to make the pilgrimage, according to some estimates.

The length of waiting and the number of people on the waiting list can vary wildly, depending on factors like age of the participant, province of origin and the actual quota.

Unfortunately, one way to bring down the waiting time is to pay for a more expensive privately organized packages.

But if market forces take over, the haj no longer becomes a special event and the point about being able to truly afford it pales in comparison to the need to livestream one's turnabout at the Kaaba on social media.

With the current cost of living crisis, it is no wonder that prospective pilgrims often end up with psychological and financial stress, which can in turn push them toward dubious or even illegal methods to skip the long line.

Over the weekend, Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said the state continued to evaluate its organization of haj embarkations every year.

We believe it is time for the government to rise above and beyond to offer a more enriching haj experience for all.

For one, improvements must be made to guarantee a transparent and efficient waiting list management system. This may include innovative collaboration with the Saudis or the strengthening of bilateral regulatory frameworks. More can certainly be done beyond asking for a bigger quota.

Private enterprises can also provide investments in innovative solutions and infrastructure. They can, for instance, develop more affordable haj packages to alleviate the burden placed on state subsidies.

The government must also learn to be nimble and more observant of demographic shifts in the pilgrim population to account for potential problems in the future.

Emphasis should be made on the ultimate goal of ensuring an accessible, safe, dignified and spiritually enriching haj experience for all Indonesian pilgrims.

Source: https://www.thejakartapost.com/opinion/2024/06/18/rising-to-the-haj-challenge.htm