Ministry Of Religion: Riau Islands Receive 586 Hajj Candidates This Year

RIAU - Head of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion (Kanwil Kemenag) of Riau Islands Province, Mahbub Daryanto, said this year the area received a quota of 586 Hajj candidates from the Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia.

"The Riau Islands Province has 586 people and three accompanying officers, namely the Regional Hajj Officer (PHD) two people, and the Hajj Guidance Group (PHD) one person," said Mahbub Daryanto through the Head of the Hajj and Umrah Section, Afrizal, as quoted by Antara, Wednesday. , April 27.

Afrizal said that according to the policy made by the central government, JCHs who have registered but are over 65 years old will be removed from the temporary waiting list.

According to him, the determination of JCH which will depart this year is based on the sequence number of seats that have been determined.

“If there is a JCH that is over 65 years old, the seat number above it will be replaced. Those who are chosen to leave are on the waiting list in 2020," Afrizal explained.

He mentioned that from previous data, there were 1,281 JCHs that should have been prepared to depart for the 2022 hajj pilgrimage, but the Ministry of Religion only provided 50 percent more than that amount.

"Currently the waiting list for Hajj in Riau Islands Province is approaching 2041," he said.

Furthermore, Afrizal conveyed a number of preparations that JCH needed to make for the 2022 departure, including preparing passports, visas, meningitis vaccinations and complete COVID-19 vaccinations.

Meanwhile, Hajj rituals are carried out online through the Smart Hajj application and various other media.

"We have also distributed guidelines for Hajj rituals during the pandemic. Hopefully the long wait for CJH can be answered with a departure for the 2022 hajj pilgrimage," he said.

Regarding the amount of hajj costs, he continued, it was still in accordance with the proposal of the Ministry of Religion. The amount of the 2022 BPIH is IDR 45,053,368, which includes costs for implementing health protocols. Meanwhile, the cost of Umrah services organized by Umrah organizers is close to Rp. 39 million.

"Later on, the official fee amount will be announced after obtaining the Presidential Decree through the Presidential Decree," Afrizal said.