Indonesia Gets Priority To Increase Hajj Quota

The meeting of the Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly Bambang Soesatyo with King Salman. (Photo: MPR RI)

RIYADH - Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly, Bambang Soesatyo, said that the large enthusiasm and population of Indonesian Muslims, reaching hundreds of millions, have caused the waiting period for Hajj to reach more than 20 years. Because of this, he asked for an increase in the haj quota for Indonesia.

Bamsoet, his nickname, said that he had asked the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, to increase the quota for Indonesian pilgrims from 231 thousand to 250 thousand.

"Alhamdulillah, King Salman, as the servant of the two holy cities, said he would do everything in his power to increase the haj quota to fulfill the aspirations of the Indonesian people who he considered his own siblings and to convey warm greetings to President Jokowi," he said, in a written statement received by VOI in Jakarta, Tuesday, December 24.

In addition, Bamsoet said to King Salman that his party understands that it is not only the Indonesian population who wants to perform the haj pilgrimage, but all Muslims in the world.

However, he continued, considering that Indonesia is a country with the largest Muslim population in the world, his party asked King Salman to increase the quota for Indonesian hajj.

"The addition can cut the waiting time to at least under 10 years. So that it can accelerate the Indonesian population to fulfill the fifth pillar of Islam, to carry out the pilgrimage," explained Bamsoet.

The former chairman of the DPR RI considered that Saudi Arabia is a strategic partner country for Indonesia. Not only for political and economic matters, but also for social and cultural affairs. Many Indonesian Islamic religious leaders from various large organizations such as Nahdlatul Ulama, Muhammadiyah, Al Irsyad, and others, studied religion in Saudi Arabia.

"Even history records, there are three great Indonesian ulama who have been the Imams of the Grand Mosque. They are Syeikh Junaid Al Batawi, Imam Nawawi Al Bantani, and Syikh Ahmad Khatib Al Minangkabawi. This indicates the close emotional relationship between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia," he said. .

Bamsoet admitted that he had conveyed the appreciation of the Indonesian people for the historic visit of King Salman to Indonesia in 2017, and the warm welcome he delivered at the plenary session of the Indonesian parliament.

Not only that, Indonesia also later got the honor because the visit of King Salman in Bali was even extended. This, said Bamsoet, signified Indonesia's closeness to King Salman's heart.

The meeting, which lasted almost thirty minutes at the Yamamah Riyadh Palace, he said, also discussed the Indonesian Parliament supporting the realization of eleven MOUs on various fields of cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of Indonesia.

"For the interests of the two countries, we at the MPR RI are also ready to strengthen relations between the two countries by enhancing parliamentary diplomacy, between the Indonesian MPR and the Saudi Arabian Shura Council," he said.

On the other hand, in the meeting with King Salman, Bamsoet also said that King Salman welcomed the initiative of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) which invited the Saudi Arabian Council to spearhead the formation of the worldwide Shura Council Forum, especially from OIC member countries.

Also attending the courtesy visit were Deputy Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly Hidayat Nur Wahid, Ahmad Muzani, Syarif Hasan, Zulkifli Hasan, Asrul Sani, Jazilul Fawaid, Fadel Muhammad, Nusron Wahid, Darul Siska, Idris Lalena and Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Agus Maftuh Abegebriel.