Government Ready To Transfer Hajj Fees To Saudi Arabia

Screenshot of Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas

JAKARTA - Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said the government was ready to serve Hajj pilgrims this year, starting from departure, accommodation, worship activities, to returning to their homeland.

This was conveyed by Yaqut after a limited meeting chaired by President Joko Widodo at the Bogor Palace.

"The government is ready to serve Hajj pilgrims, starting from leaving until they return later in the country," Yaqut said in the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube show, Tuesday, May 17.

The government is also ready to transfer the costs of organizing the pilgrimage for Indonesian pilgrims to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These funds can be paid in the form of Saudi Riyals, rupiah, living costs, to bank notes.

The head of the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH), Anggito Abimanyu, said the total cost of organizing the pilgrimage of IDR 7.5 trillion provided by the government was in accordance with government policy and was approved by the DPR.

"For that, we are ready to transfer the funds to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia through hotel, catering and transportation services through the Ministry of Religion," said Abhimanyu. we have prepared. Hajj pilgrims pay around Rp. 39.9 million per congregation," he continued.

It is known, the government has prepared a scheme for the departure of pilgrims by implementing health protocols. There are conditions that must be met by pilgrims during the pilgrimage, which is to have at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccination.

Then, the Saudi government also gave an age limit under 65 years because it was considered preventing the spread of the corona virus variant which was considered uncontrolled. As a result, a number of pilgrims over the age of 65 have canceled their pilgrimage this year.