150 Prospective West Sumatra Agam Hajj Pilgrims Depart To The Holy Land In 2022

Illustration of the pilgrimage. (Antaranews)

W Sumatra - As many as 150 prospective pilgrims (CJH) of Agam Regency in West Sumatra will leave for the Holy Land in 2022. Meanwhile, 429 prospective pilgrims in the area have paid their departure fees in 2020.

Head of Hajj and Umrah Organizers at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Zulkarnain Batubara, said this was based on a quote from the Director-General of Hajj and Umrah Services at the Ministry of Religion received on Sunday, May 8.

"We have announced to all pilgrims on Monday 9 May and they are currently completing a re-information document from the bank", he said in Lubukbasung, quoted by Antara, Thursday 12 May.

He said that the completeness of the documents would be no later than Friday, May 20, but in Agam, efforts would be made on Wednesday, May 18.

This is considering that the entire document was previously complete and only part of it is still missing.

"95 percent of the passports have been collected and only a small number of documents belonging to CJH are missing", he said.

He added that CJH would be vaccinated against meningitis at the Lubukbasung Health Center, Biaro Health Center, and Feed Kamih Health Center.

As for the first and second COVID-19 vaccines, all CJH has been vaccinated.

After that, the Hajj rituals are performed six times before departure, and are still waiting for technical instructions from the West Sumatra Ministry of Religion.

"Previously CJH had participated in the Hajj rituals for two consecutive years and we are still waiting for technical instructions from the West Sumatra Ministry of Religion, including departure schedules and groups", he said.

He admitted, that a total of 429 CJH paid the departure fees out of 2,053 people who registered.

Of the 429 people, as many as 279 CJH people did not leave due to the quota of only 150 people and in 2019 there were 520 people.

While CJH over the age of 65 were 125 people and did not leave due to policies from the Government of Saudi Arabia.

"We have conveyed to CJH and they accepted because this is Saudi Arabia's policy", he said.