Visit Mina, DPR Commission VIII Asks The Ministry Of Religion To Guard Preparations For Hajj Peak

Prospective Hajj Pilgrims (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives made a working visit to Saudi Arabia to check the locations of Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina (Armuzna). The commission in charge of religious affairs also asked the government, in this case the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag), to oversee the preparation of Indonesian pilgrims for the peak of the hajj next week.

"We hope that the Ministry of Religion, as the organizer of the Indonesian Hajj pilgrimage, will communicate to the Muassasah to provide maximum facilities for Indonesian pilgrims," said Deputy Chair of Commission VIII of the DPR, Diah Pitaloka, Saturday, July 2.

Diah has checked the tents for Indonesian pilgrims in Arafah. He found that there were still inadequate facilities for Indonesian congregants, including uninstalled drains, an unfinished kitchen, and very small mattresses for congregants.

“Even though Masyair's fees have increased this year. But I don't see any significant improvement in facilities for Hajj pilgrims in Armuzna," he said.

“For example, there is no additional toilet. The mattress is too small. The tent facilities are limited to new air conditioners," Diah added.

Prospective pilgrims will perform wukuf in Arafah on 9 Zulhijah, which will fall on Friday, 8 July. For this reason, Diah encouraged the Ministry of Religion to communicate to the Saudi Arabian Hajj committee to improve facilities for Indonesian pilgrims.

"Because even though there is an additional Masyair fee, it turns out that the facilities have no repairs or additions, not as promised. Only the air conditioner is an addition, "explained Diah.

"It is hoped that with the remaining time, the Ministry of Religion can communicate the preparation of facilities in Arafah and Mina to maximize the facilities that can be used by Indonesian pilgrims," added the legislator from the West Java electoral district.

Diah hopes that at the peak of the pilgrimage next week, all the facilities needed by the pilgrims will be ready.

"Preparations must be guarded as well as possible in the face of the grand pilgrimage on the 8th. This week, the Ministry of Religion must guard and supervise it," said Diah.