Vice President Expects Additional Hajj Quota From Saudi Arabia For Indonesia

JAKARTA - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin expects an additional hajj quota for Indonesia from the Saudi Arabian government, because the enthusiasm of the people to perform pilgrimages to the holy land is very large.

This was conveyed by the Vice President when receiving a courtesy call from the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to RI H.E. Faisal Abdullah H. Amodi, at the Vice President's official residence in Jakarta.

"The Vice President is hopeful about (adding) the hajj quota. Because the hajj in Indonesia is of great enthusiasm," said Vice President's spokesman, Masduki Baidlowi, as reported by ANTARA, Monday, February 27.

He said Indonesia as a country with the largest Muslim population in the world had problems related to queues for the hajj, where there was one area where the queue to go for hajj had reached 40 years.

"That is what the Vice President hopes for the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia, how to continue to increase Indonesia's quota in the future," said Masduki.

He said the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia stated that he would report the wishes of the Vice President to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

"Although it is also known that there are indeed many people who want to go on pilgrimage from other countries, including Indonesia. But I think Indonesia's request as the country with the largest Muslim population will be taken seriously," said Masduki.

The Vice President at the meeting also expressed his hope that there would be an increase in investment from Saudi Arabia in Indonesia.

According to the Vice President, Saudi Arabia's investment in Indonesia has tended to decline in the last three years.

Responding to this, Ambassador Faisal Amodi stated that he would make every effort to improve relations between the two countries.