208,819 Hajj Candidates Pay Bipih Until The Payment Deadline Is Closed

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religion noted that as many as 208,819 prospective pilgrims had paid the Hajj Travel Fee (Bipih) 1444 Hijriah until the deadline for payment was closed on Friday afternoon.

"As of this afternoon, 208,819 people have paid Bipih 1444 H, including those who entered the reserve quota. Thus, the pilgrims who paid Bipih had exceeded the national base quota of 203,320 regular hajjes," said Ministry of Religion's Director of Domestic Hajj Services Saiful Mujab quoted by ANTARA, Friday, May 19.

Previously, Indonesia received 221,000 hajj quotas this year. This number consists of 203,320 regular hajjes and 17,680 special hajjes. In addition, the Ministry of Religion also received an additional quota of 8,000 people.

Until now, the Ministry of Religion continues to formulate who participants in the pilgrimage can be included in the additional quota by applying the principle of justice.

"If the basic quota of 203,320 people temporarily pay 208,819 people, it means that there is already an excess reserve quota of up to 5,499 people," he said.

According to Saiful, the next stage is the sealing of services for pilgrims and the vision process.

"We will speed up the vision process. Thank God, 90 percent of the vision has been achieved," he said.

Previously, Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said that his party was very ready for this year's Hajj. All services have been completely completed, such as consumption, accommodation, and transportation.

"God willing, everything will be ready. All contracts have been completed, lodging, catering, transportation and flights are all ready," he said.

He appreciated the hard work of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion throughout Indonesia which continues to strive for pilgrims to complete the payment. According to him, all means are done, one of which is by going directly to prospective hajj candidates.

"From the start, we asked the KUA ranks to come to the congregation, whether they would pay off or not. If not, we must make a statement and not pay," he said.

Indonesian pilgrims are scheduled to leave for the Holy Land starting May 24, 2023. The first wave will go to Medina to undergo the Arbain pilgrimage before leaving for Mecca.