89 Prospective Hajj Pilgrims Failed To Leave, Ministry Of Religion Meranti: Due To Quota Cuts, But Can Leave Next Year

Regent of Meranti Islands Regency Muhammad Adil with prospective pilgrims (CJH) Meranti. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - As many as 89 prospective pilgrims (CJH) of Meranti Islands Regency, Riau Province, failed to go for Hajj this year. This is the impact of reducing the quota by 50 percent and exceeding the stipulated age.

Head of the Section for Hajj and Umrah at the Ministry of Religion, Meranti Islands Regency, Effendi, said that the quota cut was 50 percent in accordance with the regulations of the Indonesian Ministry of Religion. The regulation brought the number of prospective Meranti pilgrims from 160 to 78 people.

A total of 78 people from the initial quota reduction, said Effendi, then verified the age limit of 65 years and over, leaving 71 people so that 89 others failed to go to perform the pilgrimage.

"The verification is carried out because there are people who are 60 years old. In addition, there are those who want to go together, for example husbands, wives, and children who want to go with their parents. This is because of this quota restriction," said Effendi, quoted by Antara, Thursday 26 May.

Effendi explained, 50 percent or 89 prospective pilgrims who failed it was likely to depart next year. Meanwhile, related to the payment of hajj costs, all pilgrims have paid it off in 2021.

"God willing, we will depart the next 50 percent next year, after a decision and the government. Then there is no problem paying off the hajj fees, because last year everything was paid off. When the cancellation was made, no one withdrew the funds," explained Effendi.

In addition, the Head of Hajj and Umrah Organizing has not been able to confirm the departure of prospective pilgrims from the Meranti Islands. But usually each district will be combined with other district congregations.

"We don't know which batch yet, because on average the districts are not enough to be combined into one group, so they must be combined. Until now we have not been able to confirm this," he explained.

For later departures, prospective Meranti pilgrims will be dispatched via Antara embarkation in Pekanbaru as in previous years.

"For embarkation, we still use Batam embarkation or Antara embarkation. So prospective pilgrims to Pekanbaru first then go to Batam embarkation and join other groups," said Effendi.

"We want to go straight to Batam and the regent wants that too, because the distance is close. But it has been decreed, so we just follow it," he added.