Vice President Ma'ruf Hopes The Addition Of Hajj Quota Can Accelerate Queues

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin hopes that the addition of the hajj quota given by the Saudi Arabian government to Indonesia can accelerate queues in the country.

"We are grateful to the Saudi government because with the additional quota we will reduce the number of long queues," said Vice President Ma'ruf in Ternate, North Maluku, as reported by ANTARA, Friday, May 12.

Indonesia previously received an additional 8,000 hajj quotas that were already included in the e-Hajj system, the Saudi Arabian visa application.

"Regarding the distribution (of the hajj quota), the Ministry of Religion will distribute it fairly to the regions, but the important thing is that it must be taken care of immediately, not to be like last year we were given 10 thousand but the time is tight and the time cannot be taken care of," added the Vice President.

At last year's event, Indonesia also received an additional quota, but due to a very tight time, the government decided not to take it.

"Finally it just disappeared. Now, so that everything is really starting to be taken care of properly and so that it can be used so that it can reduce (antinants)," said the Vice President.

The additional hajj quota will make queues for pilgrims in a number of areas to be cut. Moreover, a number of provinces in line for their congregation touched 47 years.

Director General of Hajj and Umrah at the Ministry of Religion, Hilman Latief, previously said that there are a number of things that must be coordinated regarding this additional quota, such as the availability of aircraft, flight slots from Saudi Arabia's "The General Authority of Civil Aviation" (GACA) and criteria for pilgrims who are prioritized to enter the additional quota.

Meanwhile, Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said that the distribution of quotas must also be considered in an aggressive area in making repayments. This step can be considered so that the quota can be optimally absorbed

This year's payment of Hajj costs was originally closed on May 5, 2023. Of the total 203,320 regular hajj quotas, there are still 14,356 people who have not paid or confirmed repayments. There are still many hajj candidates who have not paid the payment, making the Ministry of Religion extend the completion time of the hajj costs.