PILGRIMS WITH HAJ VISAS FROM OUTSIDE SINGAPORE

Encik Ibrahim bin Othman asked the Minister for Community Development and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs (a) what is the number of pilgrims with haj visas from overseas embassies during the 1997 pilgrimage; (b) whether these pilgrims pay the administrative fees of $206 to the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS); (c) what is MUIS' stand on the status of these pilgrims; and (d) what action MUIS intends to take against the General Sales Agents that flouted the rules with regard to these pilgrims.

The Minister for Community Development and Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs (Mr Abdullah Tarmugi): Sir, there are four parts to the question. I will reply to each one in turn.

In the last haj, MUIS was informed that there were about 950 pilgrims with haj visas issued by Saudi Arabian embassies outside Singapore.

Did these pilgrims pay the $206 administrative charge? The approved haj package price charged by travel agents, in fact, includes the administrative charge of $206. And since the haj applications of those pilgrims who obtained their visas from outside were not submitted to or registered by MUIS, the Council did not receive the administrative fee from this group.

The Saudi Haj authorities informed MUIS that Singaporeans who want to perform the haj should obtain their visas from the Saudi Embassy in Singapore. MUIS, therefore, does not condone the practice of obtaining visas from outside Singapore as it may lead to complications in the management of the haj by MUIS.

Sir, MUIS is concerned that pilgrims with these foreign visas may put themselves at risk and uncertainty. For instance, they could be sent back by the Saudi authorities when they reach Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi authorities allocate sites and facilities in Makkah based on the pilgrim quotas specified for each country. But the actual number of pilgrims from Singapore exceeded the official quota because of the presence of the unregistered pilgrims. As a result, there was overcrowding and inadequate facilities in the areas meant for Singapore pilgrims. This is unfair to those pilgrims who were registered with MUIS.

MUIS is also greatly concerned for the safety of the unregistered pilgrims because should anything happen to them in Makkah, MUIS has no means of identifying them since they are not in MUIS' records. Moreover, MUIS plans its medical and welfare services according to the official quota allocated to Singapore. The additional unofficial numbers would therefore strain these services.

MUIS therefore holds a serious view of the problem as it concerns the safety of all Singapore pilgrims. MUIS will take up the issue of overseas visas separately with the Haj authorities in Saudi Arabia.

MUIS has made it clear that the practice of obtaining haj visas from outside Singapore undermines the haj quota system and adversely affects the welfare and interest of all Singapore pilgrims, apart from being unfair to the registered pilgrims.

MUIS has issued letters of reprimand to travel agents who have flouted the quota. It is also considering taking appropriate actions against these travel agents. In the coming haj, travel agents will have to give an undertaking not to be involved in obtaining visas from outside Singapore when making their applications as approved travel agents.

Encik Ibrahim bin Othman (Bishan-Toa Payoh): Sir, is it true that pilgrims have to pay between $600-$1,000 for theses visas outside Singapore? And do we consider the amount paid as a form of corruption? If it is so, can we take action against the travel agents who are involved in bringing pilgrims who got their visas from outside Singapore?

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi: Sir, MUIS has received information that amounts between US$600-$1,000 have been charged for these visas when, in fact, they are free. MUIS will be looking further into this to see what further action it could take.

Dr Yaacob Ibrahim (Jalan Besar): Sir, in view of the problem that has been raised by the Minister and Encik Ibrahim, I wonder whether MUIS and the Minister have considered approaching the Saudi authorities to increase the quota. Evidently, based upon the amount that they are paying outside the official system, the pilgrims can well afford to pay for the packages that we have in Singapore.

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi: Sir, in fact, for several years now, MUIS has been appealing to the Saudi authorities to increase the quota. For example, for the last haj, the quota was 3,000 and MUIS managed to get another 1,000 added to the quota. Even then, the number who went to the haj exceeded the number. For this year, we will do likewise.