Indonesia Gets Additional Quota For Hajj Officers To 4,421 People

Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas when meeting with the Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia Taufiq F. Al Rabiah in Jeddah. (ANTARA/HO-Kemenag)

JAKARTA - Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas stated that the quota of Hajj officers 1445 Hijri/2024 AD increased from 2,100 people initially to 4,421 people.

This assurance was conveyed by the Minister of Religion after holding a meeting with the Minister of Hajj and Umrah (Menhaj) of Saudi Arabia, Taufiq F. Al Rabiah in Jeddah.

"I also propose to increase the quota of Hajj officers to maximize services. Hopefully this can also be approved by the Minister of Hajj Saudi," Yaqut said in a statement quoted by ANTARA, Monday, December 18.

Yaqut said his meeting with Minister of Hajj Taufik F. Al Rabiah discussed various preparations for organizing the Hajj 1445 Hijri/2024 AD.

In addition to the quota of Hajj officers, the two discussed the certainty of the plan to place Indonesian pilgrims in Masyair.

According to Yaqut, the certainty of the placement plan is important to anticipate congestion in Masyair considering that there is an increase in quotas around the world, including Indonesia which gets an additional 20,000 hajj quotas.

"We also convey this to the Saudi Minister of Hajj. Including I propose facilities and priority services for disabled and elderly pilgrims in the Hajj season in 1445 H/2024 AD," he said.

The Ministry of Religion, said Yaqut, also asked for policy support from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah so that the maktabs only place the pilgrims in the Arafah and Mina tents according to the placement plan.

It is hoped that the incident of the Hajj participants occupying the tent outside the agreed plan will not happen again.

"The Ministry of Religion also proposes a special Hajj service formula by a consortium of special Hajj travel companies and their associations can be lowered, from a minimum of 2,000 pilgrims to 1,000 pilgrims," he said.

Another important thing discussed regarding the certainty of additionalzamz delivery approvals. Yaqut hopes that the additionalzamz delivery process can immediately obtain approval.

"In general, the Minister of Haj understands a number of proposals from the Ministry of Religion. Specifically regarding the delivery of additionalzam, the Minister of Hajj said that it was still being discussed with the Malaki Council as the party that has the authority to give approval," he said.