Indonesia Allowed To Umrah, DPR Commission VIII Asks Government To Ensure Vaccine Issue Is Clear

Umrah Opened for Indonesian Congregants (Photo: Pexels)

JAKARTA - Prospective Indonesian pilgrims are reported to be able to perform Umrah again by the Saudi Arabian government in the near future. The chairman of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives, Yandri Susanto, is grateful that Indonesian pilgrims have been allowed to perform Umrah to the holy land.

"Alhamdulillah, this is what the Indonesian Umrah pilgrims have been waiting for," said Yandri on Sunday, October 10.

But most importantly, he said, the government must ensure that the conditions for being able to return to Umrah are published to the public. Including the issue of vaccines, where the Indonesian vaccine barcode cannot be read by the Saudi Arabian system.

"This is important to be cleared so that Umrah goes well and smoothly," said Yandri.

Previously, Indonesia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed a diplomatic note on October 8, 2021, which opened the door for pilgrims from Indonesia to enter the country.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi said that this achievement could be agreed in line with the development of handling COVID-19 in Indonesia which is getting better.

"The diplomatic note also states that the two parties are in the final stages of discussing the exchange of technical links with Indonesia, which explains visitors' information regarding vaccines and will facilitate the process of entering pilgrims," said Retno in her statement, Saturday, October 9.

The memorandum also states that pilgrims from Indonesia are required to quarantine for five days if they do not meet the required health standards.

This policy was established after the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Jakarta stated that it had received information from competent parties in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding the arrangement for the resumption of Umrah for Indonesian Umrah pilgrims.

Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is currently working to minimize all obstacles that prevent the possibility of Indonesian Umrah pilgrims not being able to perform Umrah.

"Of course we will follow up this good news with a more detailed discussion of the technical implementation," she added.

She said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would continue to coordinate with the Ministry of Religion and the Ministry of Health as well as with relevant authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding the implementation of the new Saudi Arabian Government's policies.

"I myself have coordinated and communicated both with the Minister of Health and with the Minister of Religion. As you know that my last meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia occurred on the sidelines of the implementation of the 76th UN General Assembly in New York," she said.