5 Batam Hajj Candidates Cancel Flight To The Holy Land, PPIH Calls Because They Are Pregnant And Sick

A number of pilgrims for Hajj Group 18 Embarkation Solo lined up to enter Garuda Indonesia aircraft at Adi Soemarmo Airport Solo, Thursday 16 May 2024. (ANTARA-Harianto)

The Committee for Hajj Organizers (PPIH) of the Hang Nadim Batam Embarkation in the Riau Islands (Kepri) noted that five Hajj candidates were canceled to be flown to Saudi Arabia during their departure for health reasons.

Secretary of PPIH Embarkation Hang Nadim Batam Muhammad Syafii said the five Hajj candidates who canceled their departure came from Riau, and Jambi Provinces.

"One person from Riau Islands was pregnant, one person from Riau was sick, and three people from Jambi were sick too," Syafii said in Batam, Monday, June 10, as reported by Antara.

He conveyed that until now his party had dispatched the entire departure group with 12,386 prospective pilgrims to the Holy Land.

Syafii conveyed that during the 2024 PPIH Hajj, Batam Embarkation served 28 groups, including pilgrims for Hajj as a role model for Riau, West Kalimantan, and Jambi Provinces.

"From Riau Islands there are 1,310 hajj candidates, West Kalimantan 2,623 hajj candidates, Riau 5,335 hajj candidates, and Jambi 3,118 hajj candidates," he said.

He said that currently all pilgrims for Hajj candidates are in Makkah to carry out prayers at the Grand Mosque and the establishment and development of preparations for Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina (Armuzna).

Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas is grateful that the phase of departing Indonesian pilgrims runs smoothly until before the closing date, although there are few obstacles on Garuda Indonesia flights.

"Alhamdulillah, the departure of the congregation is approaching the end. So far everything has gone smoothly, except for several flights that we do know there are problems, especially from Garuda Indonesia," said Minister of Religion Yaqut in Jeddah, Monday.

The departure phase for Indonesian pilgrims has been going on since May 12, 2024. So far, 209,934 people and group officers have arrived in Saudi Arabia.