REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MECCA -- Ministry of Religious Affairs re-issued the plan of completing the identity bracelet of hajj pilgrims with Global Positioning System (GPS). The application of GPS bracelet aimed to facilitate the officers to search for the pilgrims who lost.

Minister of Religious Affairs, Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, stated that there needs a breakthrough to overcome the problem of pilgrims who often confuse in finding their lodgings during the pilgrimage.

"A chip needs to be installed in identity bracelet of pilgrims. So that it can be detected through GPS," he said, as reported by Republika journalist, Ratna Puspita, Thursday (1/10).

Lukman stated, the idea to embed GPS in pilgrims' identity bracelet was not a new idea. This idea would be applied in this year Hajj season, but there was not enough time.

Cases of pilgrims who were confused to find their lodgings often happened to those who live near Masjidil Haram. There was no bus service, so they have to walk. On their way, there were pilgrims who sometimes walked to other directions.

The cases increased after throwing jumrah at Jamarat, Mina, on 10th Zulhijjah. There were many exits which made the pilgrims difficult to find their way back.

According to Lukman, Mina incident could be overcame by improving facilities. Tents in Mina should be leveled, so that the pilgrims did not need to be placed in Wadi Muhassir or Mina Jadid.

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