Aware Of Deficiencies In Hajj Services, Ministry Of Religion Apologizes

MECCA - Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas apologized to the pilgrims if the services provided while in the Holy Land were still less than expected.

"The Minister of Religion has ordered us and apologizes if while you are in the Holy Land, we as servants of the ladies and gentlemen do not provide what is expected. For that, Mr. Minister of Religion apologizes if there are things that are lacking in ladies and gentlemen," said the Deputy Minister of Religion, Zainut Tauhid Sa'adi in Mecca, Thursday, July 14 evening.

Deputy Minister of Religion Zainut Tauhid representing the Minister of Religion Yaqut released the first batch of pilgrims who would return to the country from Mecca to Jeddah. They are scheduled to fly on Friday, at 05:10 Saudi Arabian Time (AST).

The Deputy Minister who is also Naib Amirul Hajj conveyed the apology if there were deficiencies in service to the pilgrims and their needs were not met even though they had been prepared as much as possible.

"However, as a human being, there must be shortcomings," he added, quoted by Antara.

On that occasion, he also said that the Minister of Religion of Yaqut ordered his staff to immediately prepare for the 2023 pilgrimage after this year's Hajj was completed.

"So that our preparations are better and more mature and God willing, to provide the best service to future hajj candidates," he said.

He also said that the Minister of Religion of Yaqut would release the pilgrims from returning from Jeddah's King Abdulaziz Airport.

"Once again, we leave a message to our brothers and sisters in the country, convey our greetings from the Minister of Religion, God willing, the Minister of Religion will welcome you at the airport. I am leaving tonight," said Zainut.

A total of 360 members of the Hajj pilgrims from Solo 1 Embarkation (SOC 1) were released from their accommodation at Al Keswah Tower, Jarwal, Mecca, Thursday night, July 14, to Jeddah.

They are the first group to return to the country after completing the 2022 hajj pilgrimage.

In addition to SOC 1, a total of 393 members of the Padang 1 Embarkation Congregation (PDG 1) will also be dispatched to Jeddah to return to Indonesia. They will depart from Mecca at 23:10 Saudi Arabian Time (AST).

A total of 753 hajj groups are the first to fly for the first time to return to the country. Previously, the suitcases of the members of the congregation had been weighed and X-rayed two days before they departed.