North Maluku Ministry Of Religion Gets Hajj Quota For 491 Pilgrims

Head of the Ministry of Religion of North Maluku, Hi Sarbin Sehe/Photo: Antara

TERNATE - The North Maluku Ministry of Religion said the government provided a 46 percent hajj quota for prospective hajj pilgrims, especially for the North Maluku region during the 2022 hajj season.

"For the North Sumatran hajj quota in 2019 there are 1,076 and for this year the Saudi Arabian government has provided a 46 percent quota, so North Maluku can get a quota of 491 or 1,076 x 46 percent", said the Head of the Ministry of Religion of North Maluku, Hi Sarbin Sehe, in Ternate on Monday, April 24.

He stated, however, that the determination of the hajj quota was still the Director-General of Hajj and Umrah Organization (PHU), so prospective pilgrims were expected to be patient.

Sarbin Sehe explained that later the quota would be distributed to each regency/city and some provinces in Indonesia did not distribute the quota to regencies/cities, so the quota used was the provincial quota.

However, the Head of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion of North Sumatra has reminded that prospective pilgrims who can fulfill the fifth pillar of Islam are limited to age below 65 years, this is one of the requirements issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in carrying out the Hajj in 2022 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic which has not been completed.

Therefore, Sarbin Sehe appealed to the head of the KUA in North Maluku Province who is also a participant in the Pioneer of Religious Moderation Orientation to help convey and explain to the public so that there is no misinformation regarding the departure of Hajj, especially in North Maluku.

Quoted by Antara, Sarbin Sehe said that we will distribute the quota that has been set to regencies/cities throughout North Maluku in the context of equity and justice.

Previously, the Government of Indonesia and Saudi Arabia officially agreed on the number of quotas for Indonesia's Hajj in 2022 with a total of 100,051 pilgrims and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has indeed made requirements for pilgrims going for Hajj this year. There are 2 conditions specified.

In addition, for a maximum age of 65 years and have received a complete COVID-19 vaccination approved by the Saudi Ministry of Health and pilgrims from outside the Kingdom are required to submit a negative PCR test result for COVID-19 which is carried out within 72 hours before departure to Saudi Arabia.