Mahfud Promises Cheap Hajj Fees And Fast Wait List

Vice Presidential Candidate Mahfud MD while attending an event at the Nahdlatut Thullab Islamic Boarding School, Sampang Regency, East Java, Thursday (11/1/2024). ANTARA/Rio Feisal

SAMPANG - Vice Presidential Candidate Mahfud MD promises cheap hajj fees and a fast waiting list.

"Can ONH (onboard on a pilgrimage) be cheap and don't queue long? We will try," said Mahfud at the Nahdlatut Thullab Islamic Boarding School, Sampang Regency, East Java, as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, January 11.

Mahfud said his party would try these two things, especially given the additional quota provided by the Saudi Arabian government.

"Sometimes Saudi Arabia gave a sudden quota. The costs have been determined, suddenly the president was told by Saudi Arabia, 'Come on, Indonesia will use 10,000 more, you can'. However, the quota is 1 percent so that many from Indonesia are not accommodated," he said.

This promise can be made by him and the presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo by negotiating the unused 1 percent hajj quota in other countries.

"However, later we will negotiate so that it can be cheaper and faster," said the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs.

A number of countries whose quotas are not optimized are used, he said, namely Australia to the Netherlands.

"My son, who this year served Hajj through the Netherlands (Netherlands). Not from Indonesia, to the Netherlands first. Indeed, he goes there. So, he can use the quota of 1 percent," he said.

Mahfud revealed that the 1 percent quota in several countries is not optimal due to the lack of Islamic citizens in these countries. In contrast to Indonesia, whose queues have reached 30 years.

"There are no Dutch residents who want to go on pilgrimage, there are not many Muslims. Where are they being offered? So I take my child and this is it, you don't have to queue. A week before I want to report it, 'I want to have a pilgrimage, can I? Can't. '," he said.