Hajj: The Truth

Hajj is one of the biggest event in Saudi Arabia. Not only is it part of the five important Islamic pillars, but also it brings a lot of profits for the businessmen. Yes, the money is so HUGE! Everyone who has either small or even enormous company competes to take part of it. But sadly and often time, the small companies are pushed by the bigger ones, so those hungry and big companies always monopolize the industry. They never allow the smaller ones be in the business. Who is responsible? Who is supporting them to monopolize?? Certainly, without a doubt: the government.

I’m not telling anyone without any proofs. I’m sick of how dirty our government act over Hajj for the past 5 years. My dad have worked in the Travel and Tourism industry for approximately 9 years and he knows exactly what really happens. About two years ago, he wanted to apply for the catering service for Indonesian pilgrims who stay in Madinatul Hujjaj, an UGLY place where these pilgrims stay in Jeddah. He and my mom (with a help of Saudi friend) run an Indonesian restaurant in Makkah, so it was a great opportunity for him to get involved in this business. Everyone who wants to be in the business (Indonesian Hajj provided by the government) must apply through the government; which is the Ministry of Religion. But of course, we couldn’t get involved, because we have no money to pay to them!! Said Agil Husein Al Munawar was the Ministry of Religion back then. Months before Hajj, the minister arrived and stayed in Red Sea Hotel, Jeddah and my dad basically followed him that time. A LOT of people wanted to meet him, Indonesians and Arabs, who wanted to get contracts and deals with the minister. My dad clearly saw with his two eyes how those people presented the minister with money and a number of HUGE set of jewelries. Of course, the more you give, the more the opportunity is and the more you get involved in the business. Whoa!! I got really angry when I heard about it, and I’m still angry now!! Mr. Said Agil Husein is now enjoying his beautiful life in jail. When the first time I heard about it, I screamed!! He deserves it! God is the witness of all he has done to our lovely country. [Read his stupid statement here]

Now the administration has changed. So have the minister and the Kepala Bidang (Kabid) Haji. Everybody, especially the people who have small companies, wishes for a change in how the government deals with Hajj businesses without corruptions. After three days I arrived in Jeddah, my mom and dad introduced me to the new Kabid Haji, who is my parents’s friend back in Egypt and also the brother of my parents’s closed friend. I called him Om Nur and his wife Tante Fatin. As I entered their house, I was sooo amazed! It was so huge!!! Actually, the previous Kabid rented the house and got 5 years contract for the house. Om Nur and Tante Fatin are going to ask the owner to end the contract – if it’s possible – and find another smaller and obviously cheaper house. Yeah, of course they don’t like the house. Three levels building with the swimming pool occupied by 7 people?? That’s huge! Can you imagine how much the previous governments have spent for their luxurious personal needs???

There are so many issues that should be fixed by our government; as a result of a dirty work by our previous government. One of these issues is Madinatul Hujjaj. People who have been here or have followed the news about Hajj should be familiar with this place. Madinatul Hujjaj is not a hotel; I don’t think it’s a hostel either, it’s so much like an old dormitory where all the Indonesian Hajj pilgrims (provided by the government — NOT the Plus or VIP one) stay for several days in Jeddah after concluding the Hajj. As the cost for performing Hajj increases almost every year, it just doesn’t make any sense that the facilities stay the same and never change, or maybe… worst! Sadly, the government didn’t do enough and care about bringing an excellent facilities for its own pilgrims. And I’m now glad that the new minister and Kabid suggested to find a better place for the pilgrims to stay.

That’s certainly something I’ve been waiting for years!! And that’s a good opportunity for my father to get involved in this business. BUT… the big companies, the ones who have monopolized the Hajj industry for almost a decade, obviously don’t like the idea!! Hahaha. They have taken our money and now they’re still hungry for money??? They’re unfortunately not happy with what the government is doing. And they have tried every ways they can to persuade the government to do what they want. Unfortunately, they can’t brainwash the government with money and jewelries again, like the way they did before. hahahhaa. Anyway, Om Nur tries to open the opportunity for the companies who have not gotten the chance to be in the business. And that’s a very good step!! So we, the small companies, can get involved in this competitive industry!! Let’s hope and pray that this year’s Hajj will be better without corruptions. I’m not saying that there’ll be no corruption at all. Unfortunately, a number of people still rely on that!! But I hope that there’ll be less corruption than before.