Dozens Of Prospective Hajj Pilgrims From Sukabumi Failed To Leave Because Of Age Over 65 Years

ILLUSTRATION/Thousands of residents release their families who are prospective pilgrims at the Pusbangdai Cikembar Building, Sukabumi Regency, West Java. (Megapolitan.Antaranews.Com/Photo: Aditya AR).

SUKABUMI - As many as 31 prospective pilgrims from Sukabumi City, West Java failed to go to the Holy Land because they did not pass the requirements, namely exceeding the maximum age of 65 years.

"From the verification results of the Sukabumi City Hajj pilgrims who departed this year, there were 31 people who failed to leave because their age had exceeded the limit set by the Saudi Arabian Government, which is a maximum of 65 years old," said Head of the Section for the Guidance and Implementation of Hajj and Umrah at the Ministry of Religion's office. (Kemenag) Sukabumi City Abdul Manan was reported by Antara, Friday, May 27.

However, he said, prospective pilgrims who failed to leave this year would be included in the priority list for the next year's hajj while waiting for a policy from the Saudi Arabian government.

This year the number of prospective pilgrims who will go to the Holy Land to perform the pilgrimage in 1443 Hiriah/2022 AD is 125 people.

The 15 prospective pilgrims have completed the administrative process on 20 May. The cost of hajj travel in 2022 is IDR 39 million per congregation (depending on embarkation), but pilgrims only pay IDR 36 million, because the rest is subsidized by the government.

The departure schedule is on June 24 and will be accommodated in advance at the Pondok Haji Dormitory, Bekasi, West Java.

"Prospective pilgrims from Sukabumi City joined a flying group (kloter) of 30 with Cianjur and Karawang regencies," he said.