221 Thousand People Can Ride Hajj This Year, Minister Of Religion Yaqut Lobi Minister Of Hajj And Umrah Arabs For Additional Quota

Indonesian Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (left) met with the Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia Tawfiq F Al Rabiah in Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia. (Photo: Doc. Antara/Kemenag)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government received a quota of sending 221,000 people without age limit to perform the pilgrimage in the Holy Land of Mecca this year.

Indonesian Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia Tawfiq F Al Rabiah signed an agreement regarding Indonesia's Hajj quota for 1444 Hijri/2023 AD in Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia.

"Alhamdulillah, the 2023 Hajj mission began. Today I signed a hajj agreement with the Minister of Hajj of Saudi Arabia. This year's Indonesian Hajj quota is 221,000," Yaqut said as quoted in a press release from the ministry, quoted by Antara, Sunday, January 8.

"The quota consists of 203,320 regular Hajj pilgrims and 17,680 special pilgrims. As for the officers, this year we get 4,200 quotas," he added.

The Minister of Religion said that in a meeting with the Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia it was agreed that there would be no age limit for pilgrims departing in 2023.

The limit on the age of pilgrims under 65 years of age applied by the Government of Saudi Arabia in the implementation of Hajj in 2022 in order to minimize the transmission of COVID-19 is no longer enforced.

"According to the agreement, this year there will be no restrictions on the age of pilgrims. This means that pilgrims 65 years and over can also go for Hajj this year," said Yaqut.

The agreement between the Government of Indonesia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also includes arrangements for landing of Hajj pilgrims in the cities of Jeddah and Medina as well as the implementation of new policies regarding Hajj services.

In a meeting with the Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia, Yaqut also lobbied the addition of quotas for pilgrims for Indonesia to shorten the long queue for leaving for Hajj in Indonesia.

"Everything certainly depends on the kindness of King Salman, Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, and Minister of Hajj," he said.

He also expressed his gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia because Indonesia was involved from the start in organizing Hajj services in 2023.

The Minister of Religion appreciated the transformation carried out by the Government of Saudi Arabia in organizing Hajj services.

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah said that his country prioritizes the safety and comfort of pilgrims in organizing Hajj services.

"This comfort and safety is a priority. But I say, Indonesia will always get priority in obtaining additional quotas," said Tawfiq.

Regarding the request for additional quotas for pilgrims for Indonesia, he said, "(Maybe) there are countries that reduce their pilgrims so that quotas can be given to Indonesia. Everyone has certainly missed Hajj (under normal conditions)."

Tawfiq said that the transformation of Hajj services in Saudi Arabia is still ongoing.

Now hajj services in Saudi Arabia are no longer carried out by muassasah, but sharia or companies. There are six sharia appointed to provide Hajj services in 2023 and each country can choose the sharia of the designated service provider.

"So there will be an opportunity to get the best price. I also ask that the agreement be made in detail, in order to provide the best service as well," said Tawfiq.

"In detail, this will be a guide when sharia violates. If they violate, we can impose sanctions," he added.

According to Tawfiq, the sharia representative providing services in the implementation of the pilgrimage will be presented at the Hajj Congress on January 9, 2023 so that each country can directly assess the readiness and service offers they have prepared.