Quota Fully Filled, 1,150 Pontianak Hajj Candidates Depart To Makkah 2022

Illustration of the pilgrimage. (Antaranews)

PONTIANAK - The Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) of Pontianak City stated that the hajj quota in its area for 2022 departures was fully filled. A total of 1,150 Pontianak Hajj candidates are confirmed to leave for Mecca, which is planned to start from the first batch on 16-18 June 2022.

"In previous years, there were still those who canceled their pilgrimage, one of which was because they had not paid the remaining fees from the previous registration," said Head of the Section for Hajj and Umrah Organizers at the Pontianak City Ministry of Religion, Sumargi, in Pontianak, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, May 25.

This year, all quotas for Pontianak and West Kalimantan have been fully filled, namely 1,150 prospective pilgrims from 14 districts/cities, plus six regional hajj officers, and one person from the Hajj Guidance Group (KBIH).

"This year is a bit different than before, usually the elderly are prioritized, but now the elderly are not allowed to participate, this has been regulated by law and pilgrims are required to have vaccinated," he said.

He explained that as a result of the policy, some prospective pilgrims could not go. "The Ministry of Religion immediately replaces prospective pilgrims who do not meet the requirements with reserve pilgrims until they are fully filled," he said.

He added that at the time of registration, the prospective pilgrims had already paid Rp. 25 million and when they were close to departure, they had paid it off. In 2022, everything has been paid off, so there are no problems with payments.

"I hope that prospective hajj pilgrims can take advantage of this opportunity well, especially after the limited hajj quota after the COVID-19 pandemic, even only 50 percent of the quota in the years before the COVID-19 pandemic," he concluded.