Saudi Arabia Bans Luggage From Entering Buses, Indonesian Hajj Pilgrims' Bags Are Forced To Be Transported By Truck To Medina

Luggage belonging to pilgrims from Indonesia was transported by truck to Medina from Makkah due to naqabah regulations. (Between)

JAKARTA - Luggage belonging to pilgrims from Indonesia is transported by truck to Medina from Makkah. The reason is, Saudi Arabia prohibits bags from being carried on buses or by naqabah rules.

"There is a policy from the naqabah that prohibits cabin bags from entering the bus, so the pilgrims' bags were brought back, finally we prepared trucks to transport the pilgrims' bags," said Head of the Transportation Section of the Makkah Working Area, Asep Subhana in Saudi Arabia, Thursday, July 21.

The second batch of pilgrims from Indonesia began to depart for Medina after completing a series of pilgrimages in Mecca. It is estimated that the congregation will be in Medina for about eight to nine days to carry out the arbain worship or the 40 daily congregational prayers at the Prophet's Mosque.

Based on Antara's report, as many as five groups with a congregation of 1,932 people departed from Thursday, July 21 in the morning. The process of departing Indonesian pilgrims to Medina will last until August 4.

Furthermore, Asep said, one truck was prepared to carry pilgrims' bags from the Jakarta-Pondok Gede Embarkation Group 24 (JKG 24) and the Medan Embarkation Group 8 (KNO 8) as the initial batch departing for Medina.

According to Asep, initially the pilgrims' cabin bags had been loaded onto the bus, but the customer asked to be unloaded.

"Indeed, bags in the aisle are prohibited because they will disturb if something happens. It is very strict this year, we inevitably follow the rules," said Asep, adding that to make the congregation feel comfortable, a truck was prepared to carry their goods which would arrive at the same time as the congregation.

He ensured that all of the congregation's belongings would be transported because it had previously been confirmed and checked in the congregation's rooms. Asep emphasized that if any congregational items were left behind, they would be sent by truck to the next batch.

Head of Sector 3, Raudhah Muslim Lubis, said that the preparations for the departed congregation were quite good, they had been preparing since two hours before departure.

"We have also checked, there are no items left behind," said Muslim.

He said that of the 53 groups in Sector 3 of Raudhah, currently there are only 37 groups left because previously they had returned to the country via Jeddah.