Ministry Of Religion Submits To DPR The 47 Years Longest Waiting List For South Sulawesi Hajj

Head of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) South Sulawesi Khaeroni (left) when receiving a working visit from the House of Representatives Commission VIII group in Makassar, Wednesday (6/12/2023). BETWEEN/Muh Hasanuddin

Head of the Regional Office (Kanwil) of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) South Sulawesi Khaeroni told the DPR Commission VIII entourage about the waiting list for the longest Hajj candidate (JCH) in Indonesia in South Sulawesi, namely 47 years.

"We need to convey to members of Commission VIII DPR RI who are partners with the Ministry of Religion that one of the problems in the implementation of the Hajj is the waiting list and South Sulawesi is the longest in Indonesia," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, December 6.

The House of Representatives Commission VIII group who made a recess working visit for the second session of 2023/2024 said that Bantaeng Regency was at the top of the waiting list with 47 years.

Then followed by Sidrap Regency 46 years, Pinrang Regency and Parepare City, each of which has a waiting list of 43 years, and is in Luwu Regency with a waiting list of 23 years.

"There are 24 regencies and cities in South Sulawesi and the waiting list is generally in the range of 40 years. The longest is Bantaeng 47 years and the fastest is Luwu Regency 23 years," he said.

Khaeroni together with the Heads of the Regency/City Ministry of Religion Office in South Sulawesi hoped that Commission VIII of the DPR could make efforts to overcome the problem of the Hajj waiting list.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives, Ashabul Kahfi, said that his party in the House of Representatives together with the Ministry of Religion continued to make efforts to overcome the issue of the Hajj waiting list by building intense communication with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

He said that during the 2024 Hajj season, Indonesia received an additional quota of Hajj which was sufficient to overcome the Hajj waiting list. The quota given by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is around 20 thousand.

"Be sure, we will continue to strive and God willing, next year our pilgrims will have increased their quota to 241,000 people. In 2023 our Hajj quota which will depart is 221 thousand. We hope that in the coming years the quota will increase," he said.