Government Indicates Not Sending Umrah Congregants In December, Ministry Of Religion Asks People To Wait For Further Notifications

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JAKARTA - The government has indicated that it will not yet dispatch Umrah pilgrims in December 2021 even though Saudi Arabia has given Indonesia the 'green light'.

This was conveyed by the Chairman of the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPCPEN) Airlangga Hartarto during a press conference at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Monday, December 6. The government claims that currently it still wants to concentrate on controlling COVID-19 cases at Christmas 2021 and New Year's 2022.

The Director-General of Hajj and Umrah Organization (PHU) of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) Hilman Latief revealed that his party had not been able to respond to this because they had not read any circulars issued by the relevant ministries or institutions.

"I can't respond yet, because I haven't read any circulars," said Hilman in his statement, Tuesday, December 7.

Regarding the development of Indonesia's Umrah, Hilman said, there has also been no significant follow-up. Therefore, he asked the public to wait for further notification.

"There has been no significant progress because there is a 10-day return quarantine. Umrah pilgrims are still waiting and see," he said.

Previously, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto said his party would suspend Umrah flights until the 2021 Christmas and New Year holidays (Nataru) passed.

"Of course the concentration is on Nataru, only after that we will see if it is open for Umrah activities," said Airlangga in a press teleconference, Monday, December 6.

He said that the previous government would first determine the conditions for the distribution of Omicron. Considering now, the virus is also spreading abroad.