Meeting Saudi Arabian Hajj Minister, Vice President Ma'ruf Discusses Additional Indonesian Hajj Quota

Saudi Arabian Hajj and Umrah Affairs Minister Tawfiq Fawzan Muhammed Alrbiah met with Vice President Ma Ruf Amin at the Vice President's Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (30/4/2024) / DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - Saudi Arabian Hajj and Umrah Affairs Minister Tawfiq Fawzan Muhammed Alrbiah met with Vice President (Wapres) Ma’ruf Amin at the Vice President's Palace, Jakarta, today. The two discussed organizing the 1445 Hijri/2024 hajj to additional hajj quotas. According to a statement from the Special Staff of the Vice President for Communication and Information Masduki Baidlowi, the meeting also discussed additional quotas for Hajj pilgrims for Indonesia. "I think the arrival of the Minister of Hajj to meet the Vice President is a very important moment because the Indonesian government will officially also express its gratitude to Saudi Arabia's policies, especially from the Minister of Hajj and Umrah who have given special quotas, which amount to 20 thousand additional Hajj pilgrims, and that number has been taken a policy by the Government of Indonesia," said Masduki at the Vice Presidential Secretariat Building, Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, April 30. Masduki conveyed that Ma'ruf had hoped that the Government of Saudi Arabia through the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah would continue to provide quotas for additional pilgrims for Indonesia in a sustainable manner every year. "Because until now the Indonesian government has a problem with the number of pilgrims waiting too much. Thus, if there is a continuous additional quota with the current amount, it is hoped that it will provide a light burden for the Indonesian government in the future, the next 5-10 years will be light," he said. As for the expected results, said Masduki, the queues for Indonesian pilgrims will return to normal as before or with a waiting period of no more than five years. "If it's like now, as we know, that if you register now, especially in certain areas such as in the South Sulawesi area or in East Java, it will wait more than 20 years," he said. According to him, the long problem of hajj queues is one of the problems that is often complained about at the Vice President when visiting the regions. "Every time the Vice President visits various regions, it is always a question, whether we can go on a pilgrimage or whether we have died before the Hajj time comes," said Masduki. The meeting was also discussed regarding the overall implementation of Hajj, including efforts to improve the quality of management and implement Hajj in the field. "Another thing, of course, the Vice President will talk about the hopes that the Government of Indonesia and the Government of Saudi Arabia will continue to coordinate well, with the hope that Hajj management, implementation in the field, especially that is better, more efficient, and of course not burdensome all the financing, either to the Indonesian government or to pilgrims in Indonesia," he said.

He said this was important because the Government of Saudi Arabia is currently intensively trying to improve the tourism sector, including Hajj and Umrah religious tourism, in an effort to reduce its economic dependence on the oil and gas (oil and gas) sector.