Called By Prabowo To The Palace, Minister Of Religion Calls Selection Of Candidates For Hajj Pilgrims 2025 Already 80 Percent

Minister of Religion Nasaruddin Umar (central) and Deputy Minister of Religion HR Muhammad Syafii gave a statement at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Friday (12/27/2024). BETWEEN Dwi Gayati

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto summoned the Minister of Religion (Menag) Nasaruddin Umar and Deputy Minister of Religion (Wamenag) HR Muhammad Syafii to discuss preparations for organizing the 2025 Hajj.

"We just held a coordination meeting on organizing the Hajj this year. We report that the Hajj Organizing Agency and the Ministry of Religion are preparing everything," said the Minister of Religion when met at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Friday, December 27, which was confiscated by Antara.

The Minister of Religion explained that in a limited meeting chaired by President Prabowo Subianto with Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Special Advisor to the President for Hajj Affairs Muhadjir Effendy and the Haji Supervisory Board Dasco Sufmi Ahmad, the selection of prospective pilgrims has reached 80 percent.

Nasaruddin detailed that the selection of prospective pilgrims was seen based on the Hajj or istita'ah health test until the registration of prospective pilgrims who had died. The official determination of the prospective pilgrims is expected to be completed in January 2025.

In addition to the selection of prospective pilgrims, the Ministry of Religion and the Hajj Organizing Body have also conducted tests for Hajj officers who not only have physical abilities, but are also professional in guiding prospective pilgrims.

"We don't want it to be like the previous years, there are notes that are complained that the Hajj guide is actually assisted by the congregation. This is not the case. We will. Anyway, the guide, the assistant really has to be devoted to saving prospective pilgrims from various kinds of problems," said the Minister of Religion.

The Minister of Religion added that at the meeting, the President discussed the possibility that the duration of the Hajj could be shorter than in previous years.

However, this must be discussed with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which has the authority. The President, said the Minister of Religion, wants this year's Hajj to be better than before.

"Mr. President, in accordance with the direction through Mr. Dasco, wants that the pilgrims this time are better, more efficient, more orderly than in previous years," said the Minister of Religion.