Meeting MBS, Prabowo Entrusts The Safety Of Indonesian Hajj Pilgrims In Saudi Arabia

Prabowo Subianto met with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) in Jeddah, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (Ministry of Defense)

JAKARTA - Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto thanked Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) for the smooth hajj season, when hundreds of thousands of Indonesians flew to Mecca to carry out annual religious rituals.

On Wednesday 12 June 2024 MBS hosted Prabowo in Jeddah. Because the visit coincided with the Hajj season, Prabowo revealed how the Saudi government had helped Indonesian pilgrims.

"I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Your Majesty in ensuring the safety of Indonesian pilgrims until their pilgrimage is completed here in Saudi Arabia," Prabowo said in a press statement, quoted Thursday, June 13.

The President-elect for the 2024-2029 period praised Saudi Arabia's initiative to simplify the process of Hajj or a program popularly known as the route for Mecca. This scheme aims to improve the experience of Hajj for pilgrims from Indonesia, Malaysia, and other countries.

Pilgrims and their luggage were immediately transported to their accommodation in Mecca and Medina upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, causing the congregation to cross the long queue at the airport. Saudi Arabia also claimed that the congregation under this initiative spent only a few minutes at the immigration counter.

The Saudi government provides Indonesia with an additional 20,000 hajj quota this year. Overall, Indonesia sent 241,000 pilgrims this year, the largest number of pilgrims Indonesia has ever sent in history as claimed by the Ministry of Religion.

Around 213,320 pilgrims will take part in regular hajj managed by the government. A total of 27,680 people will perform the pilgrimage to Mecca using private travel agent services.

Prabowo will be sworn in on October 20, 2024 with the elected vice president, Gibran Rakabuming Raka. In his campaign promise in the 2024 presidential election, Prabowo-Gibran plans to establish a Hajj Savings Institute to provide the greatest benefit for the implementation of quality Hajj services.