'God Willing, There Is Good News', Said The Minister Of Religion After Discussing Umrah With The Saudi Minister Of Hajj

Indonesian Minister of Religion Meeting with the Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia in Mecca (Photo via Ministry of Religion)

JAKARTA - Minister of Religion, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, shared new news from Saudi Arabia. He said talks with the Saudi Hajj and Umrah authorities had made encouraging progress.

This was conveyed by Minister of Religion Yaqut after meeting with the Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia HE Tawfiq F. Al-Rabiah in Makkah, Monday, November 22, quoted from the official statement of the Ministry of Religion.

“Alhamdulillah, today I met the Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia Tawfiq F. Al-Rabiah in Makkah. Minister Tawfiq said that Indonesia is a priority in matters of hajj and umrah", said Minister of Religion Yaqut after the meeting.

Gus Yaqut, the Minister of Religion's nickname, hopes that the Indonesian congregation can immediately release their longing to perform Umrah.

"We really hope that it won't be long", said Gus Yaqut.

According to the Minister of Religion, the results of his meeting with the Saudi Minister of Hajj were quite progressive and effective. This was inseparable from the initial discussion (Senior Official Meeting) conducted by the Saudi Deputy Minister of Hajj with the Ministry of Religion team led by the Director-General of Hajj and Umrah (PHU), Special Staff of the Minister of Religion, and the Jeddah Hajj Consul team.

Discussions between the two parties will continue to be carried out intensively. The Ministry of Religion will draw up a scenario and timeline for the departure of the Umrah pilgrims.

The implementation of health protocols or health care protocols will be the most important aspect in organizing Umrah. The formula was then submitted to the Saudi Ministry of Hajj for study.

"The Minister of Hajj appreciated the progress of the initial discussions that the Deputy Minister of Hajj had carried out with the Ministry of Religion team. We hope that further preparations both in Saudi and in the country can be completed soon so that the implementation of Umrah can be opened soon", he hoped.

In addition to discussing the implementation of Umrah, the meeting of the two ministers also discussed efforts to increase bilateral cooperation in the field of Hajj and Umrah.

"We have the same vision in increasing cooperation, such as in the field of Hajj rituals or integrated counseling", he said.

Also attending the meeting were the Chairman of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Yandri Susanto, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Religion, Nizar, Director General of PHU of the Ministry of Religion, Hilman Latif, Indonesian Consul General in Jeddah, Eko Hartono, Consul for Hajj, and the ad interim Charge d'Affaires of the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh, Arief Hidayat.